Shloka 52

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

वैराग्यं संजनयति विराग इति स स्मृतः

Transliteration

vairāgyaṃ saṃjanayati virāga iti sa smṛtaḥ

Translation

Was Unverhaftetsein hervorbringt, wird als „virāga“ (Loslösung, Leidenschaftslosigkeit) erinnert.

Word by Word

• vairāgyam: dispassion/renunciation
• vairāgyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃjanayati: produces/generates
• saṃjanayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jan (जन् धातु) + saṃ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative sense ‘causes to arise’ is lexical here

• virāgaḥ: dispassion (as an agent/quality)
• virāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यादि-निपात)

• saḥ: he/it
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• smṛtaḥ: is called/remembered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (स्मृ धातु) + kta (क्त प्रत्यय) → smṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकर्मणि क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Virāga is that which generates vairāgya (dispassion/detachment).

Vedantic Theme: Causal link between insight/renunciation and the arising of dispassion; strengthening the sādhana-catuṣṭaya limb of vairāgya.

Application: Identify practices that reliably produce detachment (sense-restraint, contemplation of impermanence, nishkāma service) and repeat them consistently.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.51 (vijñāna defined via renunciation of kāmya karma leading to virāga)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of vairagya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines the causal principle: true detachment (virāga) is what generates vairāgya, making dispassion a cultivated spiritual outcome rather than a mere mood.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing detachment from craving, it points to the inner preparation for liberation—reducing bondage-creating attachments that bind the jīva to repeated birth and post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice virāga by consciously loosening craving—simplify desires, restrain sense-indulgence, and reflect on impermanence—so that stable vairāgya (dispassion) naturally arises.