Shloka 17

Devanagari script

वर्णोज्ज्वलया कान्त्या सान्द्राकारो विभासया भाति / तदपि गुणवत्संज्ञामाप्नोति हि यादृशी पूर्वम्

Transliteration

varṇojjvalayā kāntyā sāndrākāro vibhāsayā bhāti / tadapi guṇavatsaṃjñāmāpnoti hi yādṛśī pūrvam

Translation

Shining with radiant, color-bright splendor, it appears as a dense and clearly formed presence. Even so, it is said to acquire the designation “endowed with qualities,” just as it was before.

Word by Word

• वर्णोज्ज्वलया: by color-bright (lustre)
• वर्णोज्ज्वलया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण-उज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक; वर्ण + उज्ज्वल)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—कान्त्या इति विशेष्यस्य

• कान्त्या: by lustre, by brilliance
• कान्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• सान्द्राकारः: having a dense/compact form
• सान्द्राकारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सान्द्र-आकार (प्रातिपदिक; सान्द्र + आकार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—(रत्न/मरकत) इत्यस्य

• विभासया: by radiance, by shining
• विभासया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• भाति: shines
• भाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that (even that)
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (तद् + अपि)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘even/also’

• गुणवत्संज्ञाम्: the designation ‘possessing qualities’
• गुणवत्संज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुणवत्-संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक; गुणवत् + संज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘गुणवत्’ इति विशेषण-पूर्वपदः

• आप्नोति: attains, obtains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेतौ/निश्चये ‘indeed/for’

• यादृशी: such as (it was)
• यादृशी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्—संज्ञा (स्त्री) इत्यस्य; ‘as it was’

• पूर्वम्: formerly, before
• पूर्वम्: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण), कालवाचक—‘formerly/before’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Name/designation (saṃjñā) and attribution of guṇas can persist despite changes in appearance; discernment between seeming and ascribed nature.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-adhyāropa and nāma-rūpa: how qualities and labels are superimposed/retained in cognition.

Application: Practice viveka: do not judge essence solely by outward brilliance; verify the underlying nature/quality before valuing or adopting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.71 (ratna-parīkṣā / gem-characteristics context)

FAQs

What is the importance of guṇas (qualities) in Garuda Purana teachings?

This verse indicates that even when the being appears in a luminous, compact form, it still carries the designation of being ‘with qualities’—implying continuity of guṇa-conditioned identity across states.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It suggests that the post-death presence can manifest as a radiant, formed entity, yet remains conditioned by the same guṇa-based nature as before—supporting the idea of continuity in the soul’s experiential journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattva (clarity, restraint, compassion) through ethical living and discipline, since the guṇa-pattern formed in life is implied to persist and shape experience beyond death.