Shloka 54

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

बलज्ञानादिकं यावन्मूलरूपे प्रदृश्यते / त्रेतायुगस्वरूपे च न दर्शयति तादृशम्

Transliteration

balajñānādikaṃ yāvanmūlarūpe pradṛśyate / tretāyugasvarūpe ca na darśayati tādṛśam

Translation

ಮೂಲಸ್ವರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಲ, ಜ್ಞಾನ ಮೊದಲಾದವು ಎಷ್ಟರ ಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣುತ್ತವೋ, ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ತ್ರೇತಾಯುಗಸ್ವರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರದರ್ಶಿತವಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.

Word by Word

• बलज्ञानादिकम्: strength, knowledge, etc.
• बलज्ञानादिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यावत्: as much as/so far as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Correlation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (correlative: 'as much as/so long as')

• मूलरूपे: in the original form
• मूलरूपे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('मूलस्य रूपम्'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• प्रदृश्यते: is clearly seen
• प्रदृश्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive: 'is clearly seen')

• त्रेतायुगस्वरूपे: in the form (manifestation) in the Tretā-yuga
• त्रेतायुगस्वरूपे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tretāyuga (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('त्रेतायुगस्य स्वरूपम्'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation)

• दर्शयति: shows/manifests
• दर्शयति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: darś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तादृशम्: such (as that)
• तादृशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying implied 'that (amount/form)')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yuga-conditioned expression: qualities evident in original form are not equally displayed in Treta-yuga form.

Vedantic Theme: Upadhi-bheda: the same principle appears with differing vyavaharika expression across time/conditions.

Application: Avoid absolutizing one historical/temporal expression of a power; evaluate teachings/agents with context sensitivity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.53 (full shakti yet nuanced visibility); Garuda Purana 3.12.55-56 (Treta→Dvapara→Kali correspondences)

Characters & Entities

• Tretā Yuga

FAQs

What is the importance of Yuga-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that human capacities like strength and knowledge do not remain constant across cosmic ages; understanding Yuga-dharma frames how spiritual practice and worldly ability vary with time.

How does this verse explain changes in human ability across Yugas?

It states that qualities perceived in a “root/original” condition are not manifested to the same extent in the Tretā Yuga, implying a measurable shift or reduction in how such powers appear.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize limitations of the present age and rely more on steady dharma—ethical living, devotion, and disciplined practice—rather than expecting effortless attainment of strength or knowledge.