Shloka 38

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

गायत्रीवद्भारत्या देवदेव ज्ञातव्यमेवं हरितत्त्ववेदिभिः / ममाज्ञानं दृश्यते यत्र कुत्र दैत्यादीनां मोहनार्थ सदैव

Transliteration

gāyatrīvadbhāratyā devadeva jñātavyamevaṃ haritattvavedibhiḥ / mamājñānaṃ dṛśyate yatra kutra daityādīnāṃ mohanārtha sadaiva

Translation

Wahai Dewa para dewa! Sebagaimana melalui Gāyatrī dan Bhāratī (Sarasvatī) orang memahami, demikian pula para pengenal tattva Hari hendaknya mengerti ajaran ini. Jika kebodohanku tampak di mana pun, itu semata-mata selalu untuk memperdaya para Daitya dan sejenisnya.

Word by Word

• गायत्री-वत्: like Gāyatrī
• गायत्री-वत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Comparative indeclinable (उपमान-अव्यय) meaning 'like'

• भारत्या: by/through Bhāratī (Sarasvatī/speech)
• भारत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• देवदेव: O God of gods
• देवदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• ज्ञातव्यम्: should be known
• ज्ञातव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative (तव्यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); विधेय—'it should be known'

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• हरि-तत्त्व-वेदिभिः: by the knowers of Hari's reality
• हरि-तत्त्व-वेदिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अज्ञानम्: ignorance
• अज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• कुत्र: anywhere/wherever
• कुत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कुत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative/indefinite adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• दैत्य-आदीनाम्: of demons and others
• दैत्य-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• मोहन-अर्थम्: for deluding (them)
• मोहन-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मोहन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; accusative-form meaning 'for the sake of'

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True knowers of Hari discern that apparent ignorance can be a deliberate veil (mohana) employed for cosmic purposes; real knowledge is aligned with mantra and Vāk.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā/āvaraṇa and līlā: the appearance of ajñāna can be functional without negating underlying jñāna; discernment (viveka) is required of Hari-tattva-vedins.

Application: Cultivate humility in speech, avoid premature display of realization, and maintain discernment: do not mistake pedagogical concealment or strategic silence for genuine ignorance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.39-42 (continuation on śrāddha-as-if-ignorant, śravaṇa, aparokṣa-jñāna)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• Gāyatrī
• Daityas
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Gāyatrī and Bhāratī in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse points to recognized sources of right knowledge—Gāyatrī (mantric illumination) and Bhāratī/Sarasvatī (speech and wisdom)—to validate how Hari-tattva should be understood by qualified seekers.

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

Indirectly, it sets an epistemic rule: accurate understanding of Hari’s truth is essential for correct guidance; confusion or ‘ignorance’ is framed as a divine strategy used only to mislead hostile beings like Daityas, not sincere aspirants.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek clarity through disciplined study, mantra, and ethical speech; avoid mistaking apparent contradictions for truth, and rely on steady, sattvic sources of knowledge when making dharmic decisions.