Shloka 23

Devanagari script

अविद्याप्युपकाराय विषवज्जायते नृणाम् / अनुष्ठाना भ्युपायेन बन्धयोग्यापि नो हि सा

Transliteration

avidyāpyupakārāya viṣavajjāyate nṛṇām / anuṣṭhānā bhyupāyena bandhayogyāpi no hi sā

Translation

അവിദ്യയും മനുഷ്യർക്കു വിഷംപോലെ ഉപകാരകരമായി തോന്നാം; എന്നാൽ ശാസ്ത്രവിധിപ്രകാരം ശാസനയുള്ള അനുഷ്ഠാനമാർഗ്ഗംകൊണ്ട് അത് യഥാർത്ഥത്തിൽ ബന്ധിപ്പിക്കാനാകുന്നതല്ല।

Word by Word

• अविद्या: ignorance
• अविद्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षासूचक अव्यय (even/also)

• उपकाराय: for benefit
• उपकाराय: Sampradana (Recipient/Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (dative of purpose)

• विषवत्: like poison
• विषवत्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विष + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial ‘like poison’)

• जायते: arises/becomes
• जायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः—उत्पद्यते/भवति (arises/becomes)

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन

• अनुष्ठानाभ्युपायेन: by the means of undertaking (proper practice)
• अनुष्ठानाभ्युपायेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुष्ठान + अभ्युपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; समासः—अनुष्ठानस्य अभ्युपायः (means of performance/undertaking)

• बन्धयोग्या: fit to be bound/controlled
• बन्धयोग्या: Karta (Subject-complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध + योग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; समासः—बन्धस्य योग्या (fit to be bound/controlled); विशेषणं ‘सा (अविद्या)’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षासूचक अव्यय (even/also)

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतु-सूचक अव्यय (indeed/for)

• सा: that (she/it)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avidyā can masquerade as benefit (like a seeming remedy that is actually poison), but through proper anushṭhāna (disciplined practice) it need not become a binding force.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā as misapprehension; sādhana (right practice) as the means to prevent bondage and cultivate viveka.

Application: Treat comforting misconceptions as suspect; adopt steady disciplines—study, ethical restraint, worship/meditation—so that ignorance does not harden into binding habits.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana didactic passages contrasting right practice (anushṭhāna) with delusion and negligence (general thematic parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of avidyā (ignorance) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that ignorance may seem useful or comforting, but it is ultimately harmful—like poison—and must be addressed through right practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that bondage is sustained by ignorance, and that disciplined observance and right method loosen that bondage, supporting progress toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not justify harmful habits or wrong views as “helpful”; instead adopt steady sādhanā—ethical living, study, and disciplined practice—to reduce delusion and attachment.