Shloka 21

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

व्यासपुत्रः शुकः प्रोक्तो वायोरावेशसंयुतः / रुद्रावतारो विज्ञेयो ज्ञानार्थमभवद्भुवि

Transliteration

vyāsaputraḥ śukaḥ prokto vāyorāveśasaṃyutaḥ / rudrāvatāro vijñeyo jñānārthamabhavadbhuvi

Translation

Śuka, hijo de Vyāsa, es tenido por colmado de la divina infusión de Vāyu; debe entenderse como una encarnación de Rudra, que se manifestó en la tierra para impartir el conocimiento espiritual.

Word by Word

• vyāsa-putraḥ: Vyāsa's son
• vyāsa-putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्यासस्य पुत्रः)

• śukaḥ: Śuka
• śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• proktaḥ: is said/declared
• proktaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vāyoḥ: of Vāyu
• vāyoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• āveśa-saṃyutaḥ: endowed with (divine) possession/entrance
• āveśa-saṃyutaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āveśa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (आवेशेन संयुक्तः = possessed/combined with possession)

• rudra-avatāraḥ: an incarnation of Rudra
• rudra-avatāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/विधेय-नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य अवतारः)

• vijñeyaḥ: should be known
• vijñeyaḥ: Vidhi (विधि/आदेश)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-jñā (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/अनीयर्-अर्थे य-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/Passive potential participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘should be known’

• jñāna-artham: for (the purpose of) knowledge
• jñāna-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञानस्य अर्थः = for the sake of knowledge)

• abhavat: became, came to be
• abhavat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: a-bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• bhuvi: on earth
• bhuvi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A realized teacher may manifest by divine empowerment/avatāra for the explicit purpose of imparting liberating knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Guru-tattva and jñāna as the direct means to mokṣa; divine agency operating through a jñānī.

Application: Approach jñāna with humility; seek instruction from realized teachers; treat spiritual learning as the purpose of human life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: realm/plane

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): sections praising Viṣṇu-bhakti and the role of right knowledge in liberation (mokṣa-prakaraṇa themes)

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Shuka (Shukadeva)
• Vayu
• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of Śuka in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śuka as a divinely empowered sage—linked to Vāyu’s inspiration and Rudra’s avatāra—whose earthly purpose is the transmission of liberating knowledge (jñāna).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and liberation?

By emphasizing jñāna as the reason for Śuka’s manifestation, the verse points to spiritual knowledge as the primary means to transcend bondage and attain liberation, beyond merely ritual or fear of afterlife consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat authentic spiritual instruction as a sacred aid to liberation: study, reflect, and practice discernment (viveka) under competent guidance, using knowledge to reduce attachment and cultivate inner freedom.