Home›Garuda Purana›Moksha Sadhana Prakarana›Adhyaya 19›Shloka 2
←Previous Verse
Next Verse→

Shloka 2

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

मया श्रुतं विरिञ्चेन उमापर्यन्तमेव च / अनन्तांशैर्विहीनत्वं विरिञ्चोक्तं सुराधिप

Transliteration

mayā śrutaṃ viriñcena umāparyantameva ca / anantāṃśairvihīnatvaṃ viriñcoktaṃ surādhipa

Translation

O Herr der Götter, ich habe es von Viriñca (Brahmā) gehört — ja auch von allen bis hin zu Umā (Pārvatī) —, dass selbst Brahmā den Zustand verkündet hat, der der unendlichen Aspekte (des Höchsten) entbehrt.

Word by Word
मयाby me
मया:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम (pronoun); तृतीया/करण (Instrumental, 3rd case), एकवचन (singular)
श्रुतम्heard
श्रुतम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (understood) ‘heard’
विरिञ्चेनby Viriñca (Brahmā)
विरिञ्चेन:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootविरिञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया/करण (Instrumental), एकवचन
उमा-पर्यन्तम्up to Umā
उमा-पर्यन्तम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootउमा (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष समास (सीमावाचक: ‘up to Umā’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; (qualifies an implied range/extent)
एवindeed/only
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle); अव्यय
चand
च:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
अनन्त-अंशैःby infinite portions
अनन्त-अंशैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष समास (‘endless parts’); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया/करण (Instrumental), बहुवचन
विहीनत्वम्devoidness/lack
विहीनत्वम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootविहीनत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun: ‘state of being devoid’)
विरिञ्च-उक्तम्stated by Viriñca
विरिञ्च-उक्तम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootविरिञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त)
Formतत्पुरुष समास (‘said by Viriñca’); उक्त = वच् (धातु) + क्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; (qualifies विहीनत्वम्)
सुराधिपO lord of the gods
सुराधिप:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootसुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष समास (‘lord of gods’); पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन
Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu as the supreme Lord

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even Brahmā acknowledges ‘vihīnatva’—inability to encompass the Infinite aspects of the Supreme; finite intellect/office cannot exhaust Ananta.

Vedantic Theme: Neti-neti implication: the Infinite (Ananta/Brahman) transcends all limited knowers; humility before the Absolute.

Application: Cultivate epistemic humility; treat spiritual authority and personal insight as partial; orient practice toward the Infinite through steady devotion and inquiry.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.1 (Garuḍa’s summary leading to this point); Garuda Purana 3.18 (ānanda gradation that motivates the question)

Characters & Entities
V
Viriñca (Brahmā)
U
Umā (Pārvatī)
S
Sura-adhipa (Lord of the Devas)

FAQs

This verse emphasizes that the Supreme cannot be fully encompassed by even the highest deities; His attributes and manifestations are infinite, and limited beings remain 'vihīna'—unable to contain that infinitude.

Garuda states that he has heard from Brahmā and others up to Umā, yet the conclusion remains that even Brahmā acknowledges limitation before the Supreme—indicating a graded but ultimately finite divine knowledge.

Cultivate humility and devotion: even great authorities admit limits, so one should seek the Supreme with reverence, avoid ego in learning, and practice steady remembrance and ethical living.

←Previous Verse
Next Verse→