Shloka 31

Devanagari script

अहितहितविचारशून्यबुद्धेः श्रुतिसमये बहुभिर्वितर्कितस्य / उदरभरणमात्रतुष्टबुद्धेः पुरुषपशोश्च पशोश्च को विशेषः

Transliteration

ahitahitavicāraśūnyabuddheḥ śrutisamaye bahubhirvitarkitasya / udarabharaṇamātratuṣṭabuddheḥ puruṣapaśośca paśośca ko viśeṣaḥ

Translation

What difference is there between a “human-beast” and an actual beast—one whose intellect lacks discernment of the wholesome and unwholesome, who argues much when hearing the scriptures, yet is satisfied only with filling the belly?

Word by Word

• अहितहितविचारशून्यबुद्धेः: of one whose intellect lacks discernment of good and bad
• अहितहितविचारशून्यबुद्धेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहित (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक) + विचार (प्रातिपदिक) + शून्य (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः: अहित-हित-विचारे शून्या बुद्धिः यस्य (genitive: ‘of one whose intellect is devoid of discerning harmful and beneficial’)

• श्रुतिसमये: at the time of listening (to teaching)
• श्रुतिसमये: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative): ‘at the time of hearing/learning’

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agentive means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental): ‘by many (people)’

• वितर्कितस्य: of one much debated/argued about
• वितर्कितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + तर्क् (धातु) → वितर्कित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘of one who has been reasoned about/argued over’

• उदरभरणमात्रतुष्टबुद्धेः: of one satisfied only with filling the belly
• उदरभरणमात्रतुष्टबुद्धेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक) + भरण (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + तुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः: उदरभरणमात्रे तुष्टा बुद्धिः यस्य (of one whose intellect is satisfied merely with filling the belly)

• पुरुषपशोः: of the man-animal (human behaving like a beast)
• पुरुषपशोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: पुरुष एव पशुः (a man who is like an animal)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• पशोः: of an animal
• पशोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• कः: what? / which?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम

• विशेषः: difference, distinction
• विशेषः: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता-समाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without viveka of hita/ahita, scriptural debate is sterile; a life aimed at udarabharaṇa is indistinguishable from animality.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-vairāgya as prerequisites; śravaṇa must mature into manana/nididhyāsana and ethical transformation.

Application: Replace performative argument with practice: cultivate discernment, restraint, and alignment of diet, speech, and livelihood with dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana moral critiques of hypocrisy and sense-driven living; praise of viveka and dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of ahita-hita viveka (discerning harmful vs beneficial) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without discerning what is wholesome and unwholesome, a person’s intellect is effectively empty—making spiritual hearing and learning fruitless.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and afterlife themes in the Garuda Purana?

The Garuda Purana repeatedly ties one’s post-death condition to one’s inner qualities and conduct; this verse emphasizes that a life driven only by appetite, without dharmic discernment, undermines genuine spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study scripture with humility, reduce argument-for-display, and apply teachings through self-restraint, ethical choices, and disciplined living beyond mere bodily satisfaction.