Shloka 39

Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude

Devanagari script

परा (माणू)नां लक्षणं वेदितव्यं ज्ञानेच्छुभिर्नान्यथा वेदितव्यम् / पदार्थानां पार्थिवानां खगेन्द्र विशेषाणां चरमाख्यो विशेषः

Transliteration

parā (māṇū)nāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ veditavyaṃ jñānecchubhirnānyathā veditavyam / padārthānāṃ pārthivānāṃ khagendra viśeṣāṇāṃ caramākhyo viśeṣaḥ

Translation

Wer nach wahrer Erkenntnis strebt, soll die kennzeichnenden Merkmale der feinsten Teilchen (paramāṇu) genau so verstehen, wie es die Veden lehren, und nicht anders. O Herr der Vögel (Garuḍa), unter den irdischen Stoffen und ihren Einteilungen heißt die äußerste, letzte Kategorie die ‘carama’-Unterscheidung (endgültige).

Word by Word

• paramāṇūnām: of atoms
• paramāṇūnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paramāṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• lakṣaṇam: characteristic/definition
• lakṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• veditavyam: is to be known
• veditavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु) + -tavya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛtya (कृत्य) gerundive/obligative; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); impersonal obligation: ‘is to be known’

• jñāna-icchubhiḥ: by those desiring knowledge
• jñāna-icchubhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + icchu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष: ‘desirous of knowledge’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; manner adverb

• veditavyam: is to be known
• veditavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु) + -tavya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛtya (कृत्य) gerundive; Neuter, Nominative, Singular; ‘is to be known’ (repeated for emphasis)

• padārthānām: of entities/categories
• padārthānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष: ‘meaning/thing denoted by a word’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pārthivānām: earthly/material
• pārthivānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifying padārthānām

• khagendra: O Khagendra
• khagendra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय); Vocative (8/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• viśeṣāṇām: of particulars/specifics
• viśeṣāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• carama-ākhyaḥ: called ‘ultimate/last’
• carama-ākhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: carama (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय: ‘named as the last’); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying viśeṣaḥ

• viśeṣaḥ: a particular (category)
• viśeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Paramāṇu-lakṣaṇa (definition of the subtlest particle) and the ‘carama’ (terminal) viśeṣa as the final classificatory distinction among earthy entities.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa-niṣṭhā (fidelity to valid means of knowledge) and the limits/structure of nāma-rūpa analysis at the subtlest level of prakṛti.

Application: Cultivate disciplined study: learn definitions from reliable śāstra/ācārya, avoid speculative distortion; use precise categories when analyzing material phenomena.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.40-43 (continuation: definition of paramāṇu; dialogue Garuḍa–Kṛṣṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of understanding atoms (paramāṇu/māṇu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames knowledge of the subtlest particles as a required foundation for seekers, emphasizing accurate understanding of their defining marks rather than speculation.

How does this verse explain the classification of material substances (padārtha)?

It indicates that earthy/material substances have specific distinctions (viśeṣa), culminating in an ultimate or terminal category termed ‘carama’, suggesting a structured hierarchy of material analysis.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach spiritual and philosophical study with precision—learn definitions from reliable sources, avoid guesswork, and build understanding step by step from fundamentals.