Shloka 38

Devanagari script

तञ्ज्ञानं यत्र गोविन्दः सा कथा यत्र काशवः / तत्कर्म यत्तदर्थाय किमन्यैर्बहुभाषितैः

Transliteration

tañjñānaṃ yatra govindaḥ sā kathā yatra kāśavaḥ / tatkarma yattadarthāya kimanyairbahubhāṣitaiḥ

Translation

That alone is true knowledge wherein Govinda is the object. That alone is true discourse wherein Keśava is the theme. That alone is true action which is done for His sake—what need is there of much other talk?

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'ज्ञानम्' इति विशेषण (demonstrative)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यत्र: wherein
• यत्र: Adhikarana (relative locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb 'where/wherein')

• गोविन्दः: Govinda
• गोविन्दः: Karta (in relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सा: that
• सा: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'कथा' इति विशेषण

• कथा: story/discourse
• कथा: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यत्र: wherein
• यत्र: Adhikarana (relative locus)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/देशवाचक-अव्यय

• काशवः: Keśava
• काशवः: Karta (in relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पाठे 'काशवः' = 'केशवः' (orthographic/recensional variant)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'कर्म' इति विशेषण

• कर्म: action/deed
• कर्म: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Visheshana (relative qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative)

• तत्-अर्थाय: for that purpose
• तत्-अर्थाय: Sampradana (purpose/beneficiary)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'तस्य अर्थः' (for that purpose)

• किम्: what (use)?
• किम्: Prashna (interrogative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक—अत्र 'किम्?' = 'what use?'

• अन्यैः: with other (things)
• अन्यैः: Karana (by/with)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• बहु-भाषितैः: by much talk/many words
• बहु-भाषितैः: Karana (instrumental: by many words)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + भाषित (कृदन्त; √भाष् धातु; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—'बहु भाषितानि' (many utterances); भाषित = क्त (spoken)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (as narrator/teacher to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True knowledge, discourse, and action are those oriented to Govinda/Keśava; all else is secondary verbosity.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti-integrated jñāna and karma (jñāna-yukta-bhakti; karma as īśvara-arpana); unity of life through God-centered intentionality.

Application: Audit daily inputs: learn, speak, and act with a Govinda-centered aim—study that deepens devotion, speech that remembers Him, work offered to Him.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on Viṣṇu-kathā and nāma as highest purifier and support at death

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Keśava
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Govinda-centered knowledge in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines “true knowledge” as that which culminates in Govinda—knowledge that does not lead to remembrance and devotion to Viṣṇu is treated as secondary.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prioritizing Keśava-kathā and actions done for Him, the verse points to bhakti-oriented living as the inner support for the soul’s spiritual progress beyond mere intellectual discussion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep speech, study, and daily duties aligned with devotion—regularly hear/recite Viṣṇu narratives, and dedicate work and choices to dharma and remembrance of the Divine.