Shloka 9

Devanagari script

सर्वेषा मेव जन्तूनां विवेको दुर्लभः परः / एकपादादिरूपेण देहभेदास्त्वनेकशः

Transliteration

sarveṣā meva jantūnāṃ viveko durlabhaḥ paraḥ / ekapādādirūpeṇa dehabhedāstvanekaśaḥ

Translation

Among all living beings, true discriminative wisdom is exceedingly rare; for embodied forms are of many kinds—appearing as one-footed and other varieties—with innumerable distinctions of bodies.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• जन्तूनाम्: of creatures
• जन्तूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• विवेकः: discernment
• विवेकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवेक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• दुर्लभः: rare/difficult to obtain
• दुर्लभः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying विवेकः)

• परः: supreme/exceptional
• परः: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying विवेकः)

• एकपादादिरूपेण: by the form of one-footed etc.
• एकपादादिरूपेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकपादादि-रूप (प्रातिपदिक); एक + पाद + आदि + रूप
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/प्रकारवाचक (instrumental of manner)

• देहभेदाः: bodily distinctions
• देहभेदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहभेद (प्रातिपदिक); देह + भेद
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषबोधक निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• अनेकशः: in many ways; manifoldly
• अनेकशः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'in many ways')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka (discriminative wisdom) is rare among beings despite innumerable bodily forms; embodiment alone does not guarantee insight.

Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-viveka as the gateway to mokṣa; many yonis are bound by avidyā, while discrimination distinguishes the mumukṣu.

Application: Prioritize study (svādhyāya), satsanga, and self-inquiry; treat human intellect as a responsibility, not a mere advantage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated valuation of human birth and viveka as prerequisites for dharma and liberation

Characters & Entities

• Jantus (living beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of viveka (discrimination) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that true viveka is rare among beings; it is the key capacity that helps one rise above mere bodily identification and make dharmic choices that affect future embodiment and post-death outcomes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting countless bodily forms (one-footed and more), it implies the soul’s journey through varied embodiments; without discernment, one remains bound to cycles of changing bodies rather than moving toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily discernment—choose actions aligned with dharma, reduce harmful impulses, and remember the body is temporary—so life is guided by clarity rather than habit and desire.