Shloka 144

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

सुक्षुद्रदेवान् भिन्दिपाले निधाय विसर्जयित्वा दूरदेशे महात्मन् / संधार्य त्वं स्वकुलाचारधर्मं संपातने नरकं हेतुभूतम्

Transliteration

sukṣudradevān bhindipāle nidhāya visarjayitvā dūradeśe mahātman / saṃdhārya tvaṃ svakulācāradharmaṃ saṃpātane narakaṃ hetubhūtam

Translation

O Großgesinnter, selbst wenn du die kleinen Götter in ein Gefäß legst wie bloße Zeichen und sie dann in fernem Land wegwirfst, hältst du doch an der Dharma der Sitten deines Geschlechts fest—doch solche Heuchelei wird zur Ursache des Sturzes in die Hölle.

Word by Word

• सुक्षुद्रदेवान्: very petty deities
• सुक्षुद्रदेवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सुक्षुद्राः देवाः)

• भिन्दिपाले: in/on a bhindipāla (stake/club)
• भिन्दिपाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिन्दिपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (in/on a bhindipāla—stake/club-like object)

• निधाय: having placed
• निधाय: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-अर्थे ल्यप्/तुमुन्-समकक्ष अव्यय (gerund), ‘having placed’

• विसर्जयित्वा: having cast away
• विसर्जयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), ‘having dismissed/sent away’

• दूरदेशे: in a far place
• दूरदेशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दूरः देशः)

• महात्मन्: O great-souled one
• महात्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन

• संधार्य: having maintained
• संधार्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-अर्थे ल्यप् अव्यय (gerund), ‘having upheld/maintained’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्वकुलाचारधर्मम्: the dharma of one’s own family tradition
• स्वकुलाचारधर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य कुलस्य आचारः धर्मः)

• संपातने: at the fall/downfall
• संपातने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + पातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरण (at the time/act of falling)

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हेतुभूतम्: which has become the cause
• हेतुभूतम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of नरकम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेतु (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भू)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘हेतुरूपं भूतम्’ (become as a cause)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mere external gestures (discarding tokens) do not purify if one persists in adharma under the banner of ‘kulācāra’; hypocrisy itself becomes a cause of downfall.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi over external show; dharma as alignment with truth, not mere inherited habit.

Application: Audit one’s practices for integrity: align family/customary rites with ethical principles and genuine devotion; abandon performative religiosity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: moral destination

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent condemnation of dambha (hypocrisy) and adharma leading to naraka; continuation in 3.28.145 on purification and Viṣṇu-mudrā

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding hypocrisy in dharma according to Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that merely displaying external markers of tradition while internally abandoning sincere reverence becomes a karmic cause for naraka; dharma must be lived, not staged.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By linking deceptive religious conduct with “naraka-hetu” (cause of hell), it frames the after-death journey as shaped by intention and integrity, not just outward ritual performance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice faith and family customs with honesty—avoid performative rituals done for show, and align daily actions with the ethical core of dharma.