Shloka 85

Devanagari script

अभ्यस्य वेदशास्त्राणि तत्त्वं ज्ञात्वाथ बुद्भिमान् / पलालमिव धान्यार्थी सर्वशास्त्राणि सन्त्यजेत्

Transliteration

abhyasya vedaśāstrāṇi tattvaṃ jñātvātha budbhimān / palālamiva dhānyārthī sarvaśāstrāṇi santyajet

Translation

Nachdem man Veden und Śāstras geübt und die wahre Wirklichkeit (tattva) erkannt hat, soll der Weise allen Wortstreit um Texte beiseitelegen—wie der Getreidesucher die Spreu verwirft.

Word by Word

• अभ्यस्य: having studied
• अभ्यस्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (पूर्वकाले कृत्य/absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + √अस्/अस्य? (धातु) → √अस् (अभ्यासे) / प्रचलितः: अभि + √अस् (to practice)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) रूपः; ‘having practiced/studied’

• वेद-शास्त्राणि: Vedas and treatises
• वेद-शास्त्राणि: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (वेदाश्च शास्त्राणि च)

• तत्त्वम्: the reality, truth
• तत्त्वम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having known’

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/आरम्भ-अव्यय (then/now)

• बुद्धिमान्: the wise man
• बुद्धिमान्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘the intelligent person’

• पलालम्: straw, chaff
• पलालम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: सम्बन्ध (simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (like)

• धान्य-अर्थी: one seeking grain
• धान्य-अर्थी: कर्ता (कर्ता/Agent in simile)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धान्यस्य अर्थी) — ‘one seeking grain’

• सर्व-शास्त्राणि: all treatises
• सर्व-शास्त्राणि: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सर्वाणि शास्त्राणि)

• सन्त्यजेत्: should abandon
• सन्त्यजेत्: क्रिया (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + √त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘should completely abandon’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After assimilating śāstra and realizing tattva, the wise relinquish mere textual wrangling, as chaff is discarded once grain is obtained.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra as pramāṇa leading to aparokṣa-jñāna; post-realization śāstra-vyāpāra-tyāga; viveka between sādhana and siddhi.

Application: Study with the aim of realization; once clarity arises, reduce debate/argumentation and stabilize in contemplation and ethical simplicity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.86-89 (tattvajña’s independence from śāstra; jñāna as sole cause of mokṣa; guru-vākya)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Shastras
• Tattva (Reality)

FAQs

What is the importance of tattva (true Reality) in this Garuda Purana verse?

It teaches that the purpose of studying Veda and śāstra is tattva-jñāna (realization of Reality); once that is attained, clinging to mere textual argument is unnecessary.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda’s broader focus on liberation from post-death suffering, it emphasizes inner realization as the essential aim—beyond external learning—supporting freedom from bondage and fear.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study sacred texts with the aim of transformation and discernment; once clarity and lived understanding arise, prioritize practice, ethics, and realization over endless debate or accumulation of citations.