Shloka 51

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

अतो वै विज्ञनामासौ प्रोक्तो हि खगसत्तम / काम्यानां कर्मणां त्यागाद्विराग इति स स्मृतः

ato vai vijñanāmāsau prokto hi khagasattama / kāmyānāṃ karmaṇāṃ tyāgādvirāga iti sa smṛtaḥ

ಅತಃ, ಹೇ ಖಗಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಗರುಡಾ! ಇದನ್ನೇ ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ‘ವಿಜ್ಞಾನ’ (ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ಕೃತ ಜ್ಞಾನ) ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಕಾಮ್ಯಕರ್ಮಗಳ ತ್ಯಾಗದಿಂದ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ವಿರಕ್ತಿಯೇ ‘ವಿರಾಗ’ (ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ) ಎಂದು ಸ್ಮರಿಸಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ataḥtherefore
ataḥ:
Hetu (हेतु)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootataḥ (अव्यय)
FormCausal adverb (हेतुवाचक अव्यय)
vaiindeed
vai:
Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootvai (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय)
vijñanāmathe name ‘Vijñanāma’
vijñanāma:
Prātipadika-nirdeśa (संज्ञा/नाम)
TypeNoun
Rootvijña (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः कर्मधारयः ‘vijñaṃ nāma’ → ‘vijñanāma’ (a name meaning ‘the wise/knower’)
asauhe/that one
asau:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootasau (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
proktaḥis called/was said
proktaḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vac (वच् धातु) + pra- (उपसर्ग) + kta (क्त प्रत्यय) → prokta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPast passive participle (भूतकर्मणि क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate participle
hifor/indeed
hi:
Prayojaka-nipāta (निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (हेतुवाचक/निश्चयार्थक निपात)
khaga-sattamaO best of birds
khaga-sattama:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootkhaga (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘khagānāṃ sattamaḥ’
kāmyānāmof desire-motivated
kāmyānām:
Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeAdjective
Rootkāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); विशेषणम् (of ‘karmaṇām’)
karmaṇāmof actions
karmaṇām:
Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootkarman (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)
tyāgātfrom renunciation
tyāgāt:
Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
TypeNoun
Roottyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)
virāgaḥdispassion
virāgaḥ:
Pratijñā/Predicate (विधेय)
TypeNoun
Rootvirāga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
itithus
iti:
Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormQuotative particle (इत्यादि-निपात)
saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
smṛtaḥis remembered/considered
smṛtaḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√smṛ (स्मृ धातु) + kta (क्त प्रत्यय) → smṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPast passive participle (भूतकर्मणि क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate participle

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Concept: Vijñāna (realized knowledge) is characterized by virāga arising from abandoning desire-motivated (kāmya) actions.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka-vairāgya as prerequisites for jñāna; nishkāma-karma/tyāga leading to inner purification and steady knowledge.

Application: Audit actions for desire-based motives; reduce kāmya pursuits; cultivate nishkāma duty and contemplation to stabilize dispassion and insight.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.52 (definition of virāga as that which produces dispassion)

G
Garuda
V
Vishnu

FAQs

This verse defines virāga as the inner detachment that comes specifically from giving up kāmya-karmas—actions performed for personal desires—making it a key doorway to realized wisdom.

By shifting a person from desire-based action to renunciation and clear discernment, it supports liberation-oriented living; such vijñāna reduces binding karma that keeps the soul tied to repeated birth and death.

Reduce actions done purely for craving or status, and prioritize duty, ethical conduct, and spiritual practice without insisting on personal rewards—this cultivates virāga and steadies the mind.