Shloka 86

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छतगुणांशोनः स तु कंसेति विश्रुतः / तस्मात्पञ्चगुणैर्हीनौ मधुक्रैटभसंज्ञकौ

Transliteration

tasmācchataguṇāṃśonaḥ sa tu kaṃseti viśrutaḥ / tasmātpañcaguṇairhīnau madhukraiṭabhasaṃjñakau

Translation

അതുകൊണ്ട് ശതഗുണ അംശം കുറഞ്ഞ് അവൻ ‘കംസൻ’ എന്ന പേരിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധനായി. അതിൽ നിന്ന് വീണ്ടും പഞ്ചഗുണം കുറഞ്ഞ് ആ രണ്ടുപേർ ‘മധു’യും ‘കൈടഭ’യും എന്ന നാമങ്ങളിൽ അറിയപ്പെട്ടു.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that (therefore)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• शत-गुण-अंश-ऊनः: less by a hundredth part of the qualities
• शत-गुण-अंश-ऊनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): शतगुणांशेन ऊनः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• कंस: Kamsa
• कंस: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (as नाम/उपपद-नाम), एकवचन; इति-पूर्वकं नामनिर्देश

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण/नामनिर्देशक (quotative particle)

• विश्रुतः: renowned/known
• विश्रुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रु (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘प्रसिद्धः’

• तस्मात्: from that (therefore)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• पञ्च-गुणैः: by five qualities (by fivefold measure)
• पञ्च-गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical): पञ्चगुण; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• हीनौ: deficient (two of them)
• हीनौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘वर्जितौ/न्यूनौ’

• मधु-कैटभ-संज्ञकौ: named Madhu and Kaiṭabha
• मधु-कैटभ-संज्ञकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + कैटभ (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: मधुकैटभ-इति संज्ञा यस्य/ययोः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cataloging adversarial forces highlights the recurring need for divine protection; the implied resolution is Vishnu’s victory over asuric tendencies.

Vedantic Theme: The Lord as inner ruler (antaryāmin) subdues rajas-tamas; remembrance of avatāra narratives supports purification of mind.

Application: Use avatāra-kathā as a contemplative mirror: identify ‘Kaṁsa-like’ fear/control and ‘Madhu-Kaiṭabha-like’ delusion; counter with devotion, humility, and ethical action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12 (continuation of graded identifications)

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Madhu
• Kaiṭabha

FAQs

What is the importance of Kaṁsa, Madhu, and Kaiṭabha being described as ‘reduced’ by specific factors?

This verse frames their identities through graded diminution (hundredfold and fivefold), a Purāṇic way of expressing hierarchical measures of power/portion that explains why different beings are known by distinct names.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s broader themes?

Although the Garuḍa Purāṇa often focuses on dharma and post-death teachings, it also includes cosmological and genealogical narration; here, the text explains well-known figures through measured gradations, reinforcing an ordered cosmic hierarchy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat names, roles, and status as outcomes of causes and conditions rather than absolutes—an ethical reminder to cultivate humility and discernment in how we judge strength, fame, or identity.