Shloka 44
Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude
तमेवाहुश्चरमांशं विशेषं ये चैवमाहुर्मुनयस्तेन चान्ये / ये काणादा गौतमाद्याः खगेन्द्र निरंशकं परमाणुं वदन्ति
tamevāhuścaramāṃśaṃ viśeṣaṃ ye caivamāhurmunayastena cānye / ye kāṇādā gautamādyāḥ khagendra niraṃśakaṃ paramāṇuṃ vadanti
Einige Weise verkünden, Er allein sei das letzte, höchste und besondere Prinzip; andere jedoch, o Khagendra (Garuda), wie Kaṇāda, Gautama und die Übrigen, sprechen vom unteilbaren «paramāṇu», dem Atom, als der höchsten Wirklichkeit.
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Competing ontologies: personal ultimate (He alone as final principle) versus atomism (paramāṇu) as ultimate reality.
Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Īśvara as the final ground contrasted with non-theistic or reductionist categories; critique-by-context of ultimate ‘atom’ as sufficient cause.
Application: Study darśanas with discrimination; do not mistake a conceptual ‘ultimate’ (like paramāṇu) for the supreme ground of consciousness and divinity.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.45-48 (continuation: critique of ‘partless’ claim; Vishnu as aṇor aṇīyān, mahato mahīyān; time/space infinitude)
FAQs
This verse records a philosophical view attributed to Kaṇāda and Gautama: that the ultimate basis of the world can be described as an indivisible paramāṇu, contrasting with other sages who identify the ultimate as the Supreme Himself.
Indirectly, it frames the text’s broader teaching style: the Garuda Purana includes multiple darśanas (philosophical systems) while guiding the listener toward an ultimate principle beyond mere material constituents—supporting a spiritual, not purely physical, understanding of existence.
Use the verse as a reminder to study differing viewpoints with discernment: examine whether your worldview reduces life to material parts alone or recognizes a higher conscious principle, and let that inform ethical living and spiritual practice.