Shloka 88

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

क्व चाश्वत्थः क्व च स्नानं क्व शौचमेतत्सर्वं नाम नाशं करोति / मूढं पतिं रेणुकां पूजयस्व मायादेव्या दीपदानं कुरुष्व

Transliteration

kva cāśvatthaḥ kva ca snānaṃ kva śaucametatsarvaṃ nāma nāśaṃ karoti / mūḍhaṃ patiṃ reṇukāṃ pūjayasva māyādevyā dīpadānaṃ kuruṣva

Translation

« Qu’a donc à voir l’aśvattha ? Qu’a donc à voir le bain, et qu’a donc à voir la pureté ? » Tout cela, dit-on, détruit jusqu’au « nom » même du vrai but. Ô mari insensé, adore Reṇukā et fais l’offrande de lampes (dīpa-dāna) à la déesse Māyā.

Word by Word

• kva: where?
• kva: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• aśvatthaḥ: the aśvattha tree
• aśvatthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśvattha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kva: where?
• kva: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• snānam: bath
• snānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kva: where?
• kva: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• śaucam: purity/cleanliness
• śaucam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन), Pronoun

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies etat

• nāma: indeed/so-called
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (नाम-प्रयोग: emphasis/quotative)

• nāśam: destruction
• nāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• karoti: does, causes
• karoti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mūḍham: deluded, foolish
• mūḍham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies patim

• patim: husband
• patim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• reṇukām: Reṇukā (goddess)
• reṇukām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: reṇukā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• pūjayasva: worship
• pūjayasva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• māyādevyāḥ: of Māyā-devī
• māyādevyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā + devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• dīpa-dānam: offering of a lamp
• dīpa-dānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa + dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kuruṣva: do, perform
• kuruṣva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

Speaker

Likely a narrative/quoted voice within the Purana (dialogue context not explicit in the supplied excerpt); traditionally framed within the Garuda–Vishnu discourse

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Delusion (kaniṣṭhā) derides genuine purificatory disciplines and pushes the jīva toward Māyā-driven, goal-confusing observances.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā/Māyā veils the true aim; inversion of values where means (purity, discipline) are mocked and distractions are sacralized.

Application: Do not abandon foundational disciplines (śauca, snāna, sattva) under the influence of cynical voices; test teachings against śāstra, guru, and outcomes (clarity, compassion, steadiness).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.86-87 (kaniṣṭhā causes ruin; kāmya-dharma critique); Garuda Purana 3.28.89-90 (further examples of protective-thread and deity-day prescriptions)

Characters & Entities

• Aśvattha
• Reṇukā
• Māyādevī

FAQs

What is the importance of dīpa-dāna (lamp donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights dīpa-dāna as a purposeful act of devotion and merit-making, presented as more spiritually directed than merely focusing on external markers like bathing or ritual cleanliness.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on karma and ritual?

It reflects a recurring Purāṇic theme: rituals (snāna, śauca, sacred sites/trees) are valuable only when aligned with right intention and devotion; otherwise, they can become empty formalism that obscures the true aim.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep external religious practices, but prioritize intention: combine cleanliness and discipline with meaningful devotion, charity (like offering lamps), and sincere worship rather than treating rituals as ends in themselves.