Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 100

Vṛṣotsarga (Bull-Release Gift): Procedure, Merit, and Narratives on Dharma, Karma, and Liberation

Devanagari script

आविर्भवति लोकेषुगुणीवाज्ञैः प्रतीयते / एवंविवेकत्वया यो बुद्ध्या संशीलयेद्धृदि

Transliteration

āvirbhavati lokeṣuguṇīvājñaiḥ pratīyate / evaṃvivekatvayā yo buddhyā saṃśīlayeddhṛdi

Translation

In the worlds, true excellence becomes manifest and is recognized by the wise as genuine virtue. Therefore, whoever has an intellect endowed with discernment should continually cultivate this discrimination within the heart.

Word by Word

• आविर्भवति: manifests
• आविर्भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु) + आविस्/आविर् (उपसर्गवत्)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—'becomes manifest'

• लोकेषु: in worlds/among people
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• गुणी: as endowed with qualities
• गुणी: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण—'possessed of qualities'

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamana (Comparison marker/उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानसूचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• अज्ञैः: by the ignorant
• अज्ञैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रतीयते: is perceived
• प्रतीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इ (धातु) + प्रति
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive-like sense) — 'is perceived'

• एवंविवेकत्वया: by such discernment
• एवंविवेकत्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एवम् + विवेकत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—अव्ययीभाव (एवं + विवेकत्व) — 'by such discernment'

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular); सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• बुद्ध्या: with/by intellect
• बुद्ध्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• संशीलयेत्: should cultivate
• संशीलयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शील् (धातु) + सम्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; अर्थः—'should cultivate/practice'

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद्/हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True excellence/virtue becomes evident and is acknowledged by the wise; one should cultivate discriminative intelligence steadily in the heart.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka as a prerequisite for jñāna and steadiness; inner refinement (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) through sustained practice (abhyāsa).

Application: Daily self-inquiry: distinguish lasting vs. fleeting motives; seek feedback from the wise; build habits that make virtue spontaneously manifest (truthfulness, restraint, compassion).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.6.102 (asanga grounded in discernment); Garuda Purana 2.6.101 (bhakti-yoga culmination)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Wise (jñānin)

FAQs

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

This verse presents viveka as an inner discipline that makes true virtue evident and recognizable; it is a foundational practice for dharmic living and karmic clarity.

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

By urging cultivation of discernment in the heart, it implies that right understanding guides action; such purified choices shape karma, which in turn influences the post-death trajectory described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly examine motives and consequences before acting, seek counsel from the wise, and train the mind toward truth and restraint—so that integrity becomes a lived habit, not a label.