Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

कदाचिदसुरावेशाद्विरुद्धं कुरुते हरः / अतः सदाशिवो ज्ञेयो न च भागवतः शिवः

Transliteration

kadācidasurāveśādviruddhaṃ kurute haraḥ / ataḥ sadāśivo jñeyo na ca bhāgavataḥ śivaḥ

Translation

ક્યારેક અસુર-આવેશના પ્રભાવથી હર (રુદ્ર) ધર્મવિરુદ્ધ વર્તે છે; તેથી સદાશિવને જ પરમ તત્ત્વ માનવું, અને તે આવિષ્ટ શિવને ભગવાન્ તરીકે ન સ્વીકારવો।

Word by Word

• कदाचित्: sometimes
• कदाचित्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (sometimes)

• असुर-आवेशात्: from demonic possession/influence
• असुर-आवेशात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + आवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (असुरस्य आवेशः)

• विरुद्धम्: contrary/opposed (act)
• विरुद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) used adjectivally

• कुरुते: does/commits
• कुरुते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• हरः: Hara
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu-phala-sambandha (हेतु-फल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (therefore)

• सदाशिवः: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• ज्ञेयः: to be known
• ज्ञेयः: Vidheyapada (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (gerundive)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• भागवतः: Bhāgavata
• भागवतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka (discernment) between supreme reality and conditioned/affected manifestations; not every powerful form is to be taken as Bhagavān when acting against dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Distinguishing nirguṇa/para-tattva (implied by ‘Sadāśiva’ here) from guṇa/āveśa-conditioned agency; dharma as a diagnostic of spiritual authority.

Application: Evaluate teachings and leaders by alignment with dharma and sattva; maintain theological discernment—revere roles without confusing them with the Supreme.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: doctrinal passages distinguishing supreme devotion to Viṣṇu from other deities’ functional roles (general internal thematic link)

Characters & Entities

• Hara
• Rudra
• Sadashiva
• Asuras
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of Sadāśiva in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse distinguishes Sadāśiva as the higher, unwavering auspicious principle, contrasted with Hara/Rudra who may act ‘contrary’ when affected by asuric influence; thus Sadāśiva is presented as the reliable object of ultimate recognition.

How does this verse explain divine behavior that seems ‘contrary’ to dharma?

It frames such contrary actions as arising from ‘asura-āveśa’ (asuric influence), implying that not all manifested actions represent the supreme, faultless status of Bhagavān.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Discern between the highest ideal (steady auspiciousness and dharma) and temporary impulses or influences; evaluate actions by dharma rather than by name, status, or emotion.