Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

हर्याज्ञया सदा लोकान्विपयासक्तचेतसः / विमुखान्कुरुते यस्माद्विष्णोस्तस्मात्सदाशिवः

Transliteration

haryājñayā sadā lokānvipayāsaktacetasaḥ / vimukhānkurute yasmādviṣṇostasmātsadāśivaḥ

Translation

हरि की आज्ञा से वह सदा विषयासक्त चित्त वाले लोगों को विष्णु से विमुख कर देता है; इसलिए वह ‘सदाशिव’ कहलाता है।

Word by Word

• हरि-आज्ञया: by Hari’s command
• हरि-आज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हरेः आज्ञया)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• लोकान्: worlds/people
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विपयासक्तचेतसः: whose minds are attached to vice
• विपयासक्तचेतसः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपय + आसक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (विपये आसक्तं चेतः येषाम्/येषां चेतः विपये आसक्तम्) — अर्थतः ‘विपये आसक्तचित्तान्’

• विमुखान्: turned away
• विमुखान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• यस्मात्: because of which
• यस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/हेतुवाचक ‘यस्मात्’ (from which/therefore because); अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् (conjunctive use)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu-phala-sambandha (हेतु-फल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् (therefore/from that); अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत्

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine economy of grace and delusion: by Hari’s command, a function operates that turns the worldly-minded away from Viṣṇu—suggesting adhikāra (fitness) and the consequences of attachment.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s māyā/niyati as governance: those bound by rāga are diverted; devotion requires inner qualification (citta-śuddhi) to face Viṣṇu.

Application: Reduce craving-driven life (viṣayāsakti) through discipline and satsanga so that devotion is not deflected; treat doctrinal labels (e.g., Sadāśiva) as functional roles within a hierarchy of devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring contrast of viṣaya-asakti vs. Viṣṇu-bhakti; admonitions to cultivate eligibility for devotion

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu
• Sadashiva
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of worldly craving in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse highlights that attachment to craving binds the mind and becomes a cause for turning away from Viṣṇu-centered devotion, making detachment a core spiritual priority.

How does this verse explain the relationship between Vishnu and Sadashiva?

It presents Sadāśiva’s role as operating under Hari’s command, emphasizing a theological harmony where divine functions occur according to supreme order rather than rivalry.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce craving-driven habits, cultivate restraint and remembrance of the Divine, and use daily choices to strengthen devotion instead of feeding restlessness and distraction.