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Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 15

Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas

Devanagari script

दूराच्छ्रवणविज्ञानं दूराद्दर्शनगोचरम् / सर्वे शृण्वन्ति यत्पक्षिंस्तेनैव श्रवणा मताः

Transliteration

dūrācchravaṇavijñānaṃ dūrāddarśanagocaram / sarve śṛṇvanti yatpakṣiṃstenaiva śravaṇā matāḥ

Translation

遠くにあっても聞くことによって知られ、近づいてはじめて視界に入る。万人がその鳥を聞き取るゆえ、彼らは「シュラヴァナー（Śravaṇā）」—聞く者たち—と称される。

Word by Word
दूरात्from afar
दूरात्:
Deshadhikarana/Source adverbial (स्थान/अपादानार्थ)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदूर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (ablatival adverb)
श्रवणविज्ञानम्knowledge of hearing
श्रवणविज्ञानम्:
Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootश्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्रवणस्य विज्ञानम्)
दूरात्from afar
दूरात्:
Deshadhikarana/Source adverbial (स्थान/अपादानार्थ)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootदूर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण
दर्शनगोचरम्within the range of sight
दर्शनगोचरम्:
Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दर्शनस्य गोचरम्)
सर्वेall (of them)
सर्वे:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
शृण्वन्तिhear
शृण्वन्ति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootश्रु (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
यत्which/that
यत्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative)
पक्षिन्bird
पक्षिन्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
तेनtherefore/by that
तेन:
Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण/हेतु)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
एवindeed/just
एव:
Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)
श्रवणाःhearers (by nature)
श्रवणाः:
Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootश्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
मताःare considered
मताः:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootमन् (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय)
Formक्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Some realities are apprehended first by śruti (hearing) rather than direct sight; unseen agencies can be known by their effects.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa reflection: śabda/śruti as a means of knowledge; the subtle precedes the gross in apprehension.

Application: Respect testimony and inference where direct perception is limited; cultivate inner listening and discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: aerial vantage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: motif of recorders/messengers known by signs rather than sight (general parallel)

Characters & Entities
G
Garuda
V
Vishnu

FAQs

The verse highlights that certain beings/signs are recognized first by sound—heard from a distance—while sight confirms only when they come closer, emphasizing śravaṇa as an early mode of knowing.

Preta Kanda often describes subtle, transitional conditions where perception may be indirect; this verse underscores that in such contexts, hearing can precede or outweigh visual certainty.

Cultivate discernment: do not rely only on what is immediately visible; verify information carefully, and treat early signals (reports, sounds, warnings) as prompts for mindful action rather than panic.

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