Shloka 73

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

ते सर्वे त्वबुधा ज्ञेया नात्र कार्या विचारणा / अस्वयंव्यक्तलिङ्गेषु नमनं ये प्रकुर्वते

Transliteration

te sarve tvabudhā jñeyā nātra kāryā vicāraṇā / asvayaṃvyaktaliṅgeṣu namanaṃ ye prakurvate

Translation

Tous ceux-là doivent être reconnus comme ignorants; ici, nul besoin d’autre examen : ce sont ceux qui se prosternent devant des signes (liṅga) qui ne se manifestent pas d’eux-mêmes.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अबुधाः: ignorant/unwise
• अबुधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अबुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयाः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेया (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक-भाव्य (gerundive/future passive participle) ‘to be known/considered’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here/in this matter)

• कार्या: necessary
• कार्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘to be done/necessary’ (agreeing with विचारणा)

• विचारणा: consideration/inquiry
• विचारणा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अ-स्वयम्-व्यक्त-लिङ्गेषु: among those with non-self-manifest signs
• अ-स्वयम्-व्यक्त-लिङ्गेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + स्वयम् (अव्यय) + व्यक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √व्यज्/√व्यक्त) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः ‘स्वयम् व्यक्तं लिङ्गं येषां न’ = in those whose marks are not self-manifest

• नमनम्: bowing/obeisance
• नमनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमन (प्रातिपदिक; √नम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्रकुर्वते: perform/do
• प्रकुर्वते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Improper worship: bowing to non-self-manifest ‘liṅgas’ is classified as ignorance.

Vedantic Theme: Discrimination (viveka) between authentic sacred manifestation and mere external sign; critique of ritualism without right object/understanding.

Application: Verify lineage/authority and sanctity of worship-objects; avoid mechanically venerating symbols lacking scriptural/temple-sanctioned self-manifest status.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): sections on sadācāra and proper pūjā-dravya/arcana standards; Garuda Purana: Vishnu-bhakti passages emphasizing right object of devotion

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of discernment in worship according to this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse stresses that bowing to non-self-manifest “signs” without proper basis is a mark of ignorance; true dharma requires discrimination about the object and grounds of worship.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on ritual correctness?

It frames certain ritual acts—here, obeisance to non-authentic or non-self-manifest emblems—as spiritually unproductive, aligning with the text’s broader insistence on scripturally grounded, meaningful rites.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Before adopting a ritual or devotional practice, verify its scriptural and ethical basis, and avoid mechanically venerating symbols or claims lacking authenticity and spiritual clarity.