Shloka 109

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

महीपते च मद्बुद्धिस्तस्मादच्छिन्नसंज्ञिकः / एतादृशोप्यहं देव न च शक्तिस्तु नस्तवे

Transliteration

mahīpate ca madbuddhistasmādacchinnasaṃjñikaḥ / etādṛśopyahaṃ deva na ca śaktistu nastave

Translation

ഹേ മഹീപതേ! എന്റെ ബുദ്ധി നിനക്കുള്ളിൽ സ്ഥിരമായതിനാൽ എന്റെ ബോധം ‘അഛിന്ന’മെന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. എങ്കിലും ഹേ ദേവാ! ഞാൻ ഇങ്ങനെ ആയാലും നിനക്കില്ലാതെ എനിക്ക് ശക്തിയില്ല.

Word by Word

• महीपते: O lord of the earth
• महीपते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• मत्-बुद्धिः: my intellect
• मत्-बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/प्रातिपदिक-रूप) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘my intellect’

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘therefore’

• अच्छिन्न-संज्ञिकः: called ‘unsevered/unbroken’
• अच्छिन्न-संज्ञिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + छिन्न (छिद्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय) + संज्ञिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘having the designation uncut/unbroken’

• एतादृशः: such; of this kind
• एतादृशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) concessive ‘even/also’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• देव: O god; O lord
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• शक्तिः: power; ability
• शक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Adversative particle (विरोध/विशेष)

• नः: our; of us
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; ‘of us/our’

• तवे: for you; to you
• तवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Acchinna-buddhi (unbroken awareness) arises from fixing the mind on the Supreme; yet all agency remains dependent on divine śakti/anugraha.

Vedantic Theme: Śaraṇāgati and īśvara-anugraha: jīva’s limited kartṛtva; grace as the enabling condition for spiritual and cosmic action.

Application: Practice steady remembrance (smaraṇa) and humility: maintain devotion while acknowledging dependence—translate into prayerful action rather than ego-driven effort.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.110 (explicit plea for compassion to the unbroken devotee); Garuda Purana 3.13.2 (creation proceeds by the Lord’s grace and command)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of unbroken awareness (acchinna-saṃjñā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links steadiness of awareness to focused devotion—when the mind is anchored in the Lord, consciousness is said to remain uninterrupted rather than scattered by fear or transition.

How does this verse explain the soul’s path or support needed after death?

It emphasizes dependence on divine power: even a capable being admits inability without the Lord, implying that safe passage and clarity require grace alongside one’s own inner steadiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady remembrance (smaraṇa) and surrender—regular prayer, mantra-japa, and ethical living strengthen mental continuity during crisis, illness, and the final transition.