Shloka 87

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

जीवं यं वै प्रेरयन्ती कनिष्ठा काम्यं धर्मं कुरुते सर्वदापि / क्व ब्राह्मणाः क्व च विष्णुर्महात्मा क्व वै कथा क्व च यज्ञाः क्वगावः

Transliteration

jīvaṃ yaṃ vai prerayantī kaniṣṭhā kāmyaṃ dharmaṃ kurute sarvadāpi / kva brāhmaṇāḥ kva ca viṣṇurmahātmā kva vai kathā kva ca yajñāḥ kvagāvaḥ

Translation

कनिष्ठ प्रेरणेने चालविला गेलेला जीव सदैव काम्य धर्मच करीत राहतो। मग खरे ब्राह्मण कुठे? महात्मा विष्णू कुठे? पवित्र कथा कुठे? यज्ञ कुठे—आणि गायी कुठे?

Word by Word

• jīvam: the living being
• jīvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन), Relative pronoun

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय)

• prerayantī: impelling, urging
• prerayantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + īr (धातु) → preray (णिजन्त causative) + śatṛ
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); Present active participle (शतृ) of causative √preray (from √īr)

• kaniṣṭhā: the younger (buddhi)
• kaniṣṭhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaniṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāmyam: desire-motivated, for gain
• kāmyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies dharmam

• dharmam: duty/rite
• dharmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kurute: does, performs
• kurute: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

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

• kva: where?
• kva: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• brāhmaṇāḥ: Brahmins
• brāhmaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kva: where?
• kva: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahātmā: the great-souled one
• mahātmā: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण/उपाधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kva: where?
• kva: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• kathā: sacred discourse/story
• kathā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kva: where?
• kva: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• yajñāḥ: sacrifices
• yajñāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kva: where?
• kva: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kva (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• gāvaḥ: cows
• gāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: go (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāmya-dharma (desire-motivated religiosity) displaces genuine brahminhood, Viṣṇu devotion, sacred discourse, yajña, and protection of cows.

Vedantic Theme: Preyas masquerading as dharma eclipses śreyas; dharma without purity of intention becomes bondage-producing karma.

Application: Examine whether religious acts are transactional; prioritize sattvic intention, scriptural study, compassion (including go-sevā), and Viṣṇu-smaraṇa over mere wish-fulfillment rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.86 (contrast of kaniṣṭhā vs steadiness); Garuda Purana 3.28.88-90 (examples of misdirected substitutes and protective rites)

Characters & Entities

• Jiva
• Vishnu
• Brahmanas
• Yajna
• Gavaḥ (cows)

FAQs

What is the importance of kāmya-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse critiques kāmya-dharma—religious acts done for personal gain—showing that such motivation eclipses higher aims like devotion to Viṣṇu, true learning, and selfless dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It indicates that the jīva is often propelled by lower impulses, leading to actions shaped by desire; the implied corrective is a shift toward Viṣṇu-centered conduct, genuine teaching (kathā), and sattvic duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Examine motives behind “religious” actions: prioritize integrity, selfless charity (including care for animals), study of sacred teachings, and remembrance of Viṣṇu over merit-seeking rituals.