Shloka 34

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

यावज्ज्ञानं वासुदेवस्य चास्ति तावज्ज्ञानं ज्ञानवतामृजूनाम् / क्रमेणैवाज्ञानिनां वानृजूनामस्पष्टरूपो ज्ञानगतो विशेषः

Transliteration

yāvajjñānaṃ vāsudevasya cāsti tāvajjñānaṃ jñānavatāmṛjūnām / krameṇaivājñānināṃ vānṛjūnāmaspaṣṭarūpo jñānagato viśeṣaḥ

Translation

Dans la mesure où existe la connaissance de Vāsudeva, elle se trouve d’autant chez les sages droits. Mais pour les ignorants—ou pour ceux qui ne sont pas intègres—cette distinction de la connaissance n’est saisie que peu à peu et se présente sous une forme obscure.

Word by Word

• यावत्: as much as / as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; correlative extent marker

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• वासुदेवस्य: of Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• च: and
• च: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); 3rd Person, Singular

• तावत्: so much / to that extent
• तावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय/सम्बन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; correlative (यावत्…तावत्)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ज्ञानवताम्: of the knowledgeable
• ज्ञानवताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञानवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• ऋजूनाम्: of the straightforward/upright
• ऋजूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; विशेषणम् (ज्ञानवताम्)

• क्रमेण: gradually, in order
• क्रमेण: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental singular used adverbially; manner-adverb (क्रमेण = क्रमशः)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis

• अज्ञानिनाम्: of the ignorant
• अज्ञानिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• वा: or
• वा: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; alternative particle (विकल्प)

• अनृजूनाम्: of the non-straightforward (crooked)
• अनृजूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; विशेषणम् (अज्ञानिनाम्)

• अस्पष्टरूपः: having an unclear form
• अस्पष्टरूपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + स्पष्ट + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य रूपं अस्पष्टं सः)

• ज्ञानगतः: related to knowledge
• ज्ञानगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (गत = gone/attained); तत्पुरुषः (ज्ञाने गतः = knowledge-related/pertaining to knowledge)

• विशेषः: distinction, difference
• विशेषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Vāsudeva) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra), in the didactic dialogue style of the Garuda Purana

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge of Vāsudeva manifests in proportion to one’s uprightness; crookedness/ignorance yields only gradual and unclear grasp of distinctions.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikara (fitness) for knowledge; purity/uprightness as a condition for clarity; gradual removal of avidyā.

Application: Cultivate ārjava (straightforwardness), truthfulness, and disciplined inquiry; accept gradual learning while removing biases that distort understanding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.33 (wise vs. ignorant perception); Garuda Purana 3.12.35 (sun/lamp analogy for clarity)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva

FAQs

What is the importance of knowledge of Vāsudeva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Vāsudeva-realization as the measure of true knowledge: the wise and straightforward reflect it clearly, while others grasp it only dimly and gradually.

How does this verse explain spiritual progress for the ignorant?

It says the ignorant (or those lacking uprightness) do not perceive the distinction in knowledge clearly at once; understanding comes step-by-step, suggesting disciplined practice and ethical correction are required.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate honesty and straightforward conduct (ṛjutā), and commit to steady daily practice—study, reflection, and devotion—so spiritual understanding becomes clear rather than confused.