Shloka 52

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

बलज्ञाना दिकं सर्वं चिन्तनीयं न संशयः / तथापि वायौ दृश्यन्ते बलज्ञानादिव्यक्तयः

Transliteration

balajñānā dikaṃ sarvaṃ cintanīyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ / tathāpi vāyau dṛśyante balajñānādivyaktayaḥ

Translation

ബലം, ജ്ഞാനം മുതലായ എല്ലാം സംശയമില്ലാതെ ചിന്തിക്കേണ്ടതാണ്. എങ്കിലും വായുവിൽ ബല-ജ്ഞാനാദികളുടെ വ്യക്തമായ പ്രകടനങ്ങൾ ദൃശ്യമാകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• बलज्ञानादिकम्: strength, knowledge, etc. (all such)
• बलज्ञानादिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (समाहार/समुच्चयार्थ: 'बल-ज्ञान-आदि'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying बलज्ञानादिकम्)

• चिन्तनीयम्: to be contemplated/should be considered
• चिन्तनीयम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cint (धातु) + anīya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (अनीयर्-प्रत्यय, gerundive/passive potential), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तथापि: nevertheless/however
• तथापि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय-समुच्चय (concessive particle: 'even so/however')

• वायौ: in Vāyu
• वायौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• दृश्यन्ते: are seen/appear
• दृश्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense: 'are seen')

• बलज्ञानादिव्यक्तयः: manifestations of strength, knowledge, etc.
• बलज्ञानादिव्यक्तयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + vyakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास ('बल-ज्ञान-आदि-व्यक्तयः'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śakti (power) and jñāna can be inferred through their vyakti (manifestations); observation supports metaphysical claims about degrees of expression.

Vedantic Theme: From pratyakṣa/anumāna (observation/inference) toward tattva-vicāra; guṇa/śakti seen through effects.

Application: Study capacities (strength, intelligence) by their expressions and conditions; cultivate them intentionally while recognizing they manifest variably across substrates.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.51

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of Vayu (wind) in Garuda Purana teachings?

This verse uses Vayu as an example to show that even subtle, unseen principles can display observable effects like power and purposeful activity, supporting reflection on subtle causation.

How does this verse relate to understanding the subtle body or unseen forces?

By pointing to wind—unseen yet clearly effective—the verse implies that qualities (like strength or cognition) can be inferred from their manifestations, a key approach when discussing subtle-body functions and invisible agencies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Judge causes by their effects: cultivate discernment by observing outcomes (in behavior, health, and conduct) rather than dismissing what is not immediately visible.