Shloka 8

Ajāna Lineages, Divine Classes, Ṛṣi Catalogues, and the Merit of Śravaṇa-Smaraṇa

Devanagari script

अजानजसमा ह्येते कर्मजेभ्यः शतावराः / विश्वामित्रो वसिष्ठश्च नारदश्च्यवनस्तथा

Transliteration

ajānajasamā hyete karmajebhyaḥ śatāvarāḥ / viśvāmitro vasiṣṭhaśca nāradaścyavanastathā

Translation

നിശ്ചയമായും ഇവർ അജാനജ (ബ്രഹ്മ) സമന്മാർ; കർമജന്മികളേക്കാൾ ശതഗുണം ശ്രേഷ്ഠർ—വിശ്വാമിത്രൻ, വസിഷ്ഠൻ, നാരദൻ, ച്യവനൻ മുതലായവർ।

Word by Word

• अजानजसमाः: equal to Ajanaja
• अजानजसमाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजानज + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: अजानजस्य समाः (equal to Ajanaja)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: 'indeed/for')

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• कर्मजेभ्यः: from those born of deeds
• कर्मजेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural); समास: कर्मणः जाताः (born of deeds)

• शतावराः: hundred excellent ones
• शतावराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतावर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); द्विगु-समास: शतं वराः (hundred excellent ones)

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: विश्वस्य मित्रम् (friend of all)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च्यवनः: Cyavana
• च्यवनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: च्यवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/also')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Spiritual attainment (ṛṣi-status) transcends mere karmic production; proximity to the ‘unborn’ principle through tapas/jñāna.

Vedantic Theme: Jñāna-tapas as purifier leading toward brahma-sāmya (likeness to Brahman/Brahmā in status), contrasting with karma’s limited fruits.

Application: Prioritize disciplines that refine consciousness (study, meditation, ethical restraint) over status-seeking through ritual/achievement alone.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sage lists and gradations of beings; praise of nārada and great ṛṣis in devotional/didactic contexts

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Ajānaja)
• Viśvāmitra
• Vasiṣṭha
• Nārada
• Cyavana

FAQs

What is the importance of calling sages 'equal to Ajānaja' in the Garuda Purana?

It elevates certain realized ṛṣis as possessing a near-creator-like spiritual stature, implying their authority in dharma and their freedom from ordinary karma-bound limitations.

How does this verse relate to karma in the Garuda Purana narrative?

It contrasts beings who are merely 'karma-born' (defined by action and its results) with perfected sages whose attainment places them far above ordinary karmic conditioning.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize disciplines that reduce karmic bondage—truthfulness, restraint, study, and devotion—while honoring authentic spiritual teachers and scriptures as guides beyond mere worldly action.