Shloka 98

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

कंसेन तुल्यो विज्ञेयो विकर्णो दैत्यसत्तमः / कुंभकर्णाच्छतगुणैर्हीनौ क्रध्येति विश्रुतः

Transliteration

kaṃsena tulyo vijñeyo vikarṇo daityasattamaḥ / kuṃbhakarṇācchataguṇairhīnau kradhyeti viśrutaḥ

Translation

Vikarṇa, le plus éminent parmi les Daityas, doit être tenu pour l’égal de Kaṃsa ; pourtant il est renommé “Kradhya”, car sa vaillance est cent fois moindre que celle de Kumbhakarṇa.

Word by Word

• कंसेन: with/by Kaṃsa (in comparison)
• कंसेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तुलना-करण

• तुल्यः: equal
• तुल्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विज्ञेयः: should be recognized (as)
• विज्ञेयः: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विकर्णः: Vikarṇa (name)
• विकर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दैत्य-सत्तमः: best of the Daityas
• दैत्य-सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुंभकर्णात्: than Kumbhakarṇa
• कुंभकर्णात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंभकर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तुलना-अपादान

• शत-गुणैः: by a hundred qualities
• शत-गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• हीनौ: deficient (two persons)
• हीनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण

• क्रध्य: Kradhya (name)
• क्रध्य: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (as per reading ‘क्रध्येति’ = ‘क्रध्य इति’)

• इति: thus/‘called’
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/नामनिर्देशार्थक (quotative)

• विश्रुतः: renowned
• विश्रुतः: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘renowned’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power and fame are relative; asuric greatness is measured against higher standards and remains inferior to truly formidable forces.

Vedantic Theme: Asura-bhāva (egoic, power-centered identity) contrasted implicitly with daiva-bhāva; worldly might is not ultimate excellence.

Application: Treat status comparisons as unstable; cultivate virtues rather than mere strength or reputation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.99-102 (continuation of comparative hierarchy of daityas/asuras)

Characters & Entities

• Kaṃsa
• Vikarṇa
• Kumbhakarṇa
• Daityas

FAQs

What is the importance of comparing Daityas like Kaṃsa, Vikarṇa, and Kumbhakarṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a catalog-style comparison that ranks notable Asuric figures, helping readers understand relative power and reputation within Purāṇic cosmology.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey or Yama’s realm; instead, it provides mythic-historical context by naming and assessing Daityas, which supports broader Purāṇic narration.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that reputation and strength are relative and temporary; cultivate dharma and self-discipline rather than pride in status or power.