Shloka 4

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

स्वरूपादधमा ज्ञेया नात्र कार्या विचारणा / ज्ञानस्वरूपदं विष्णुं यमो जानाति सर्वदा

Transliteration

svarūpādadhamā jñeyā nātra kāryā vicāraṇā / jñānasvarūpadaṃ viṣṇuṃ yamo jānāti sarvadā

Translation

Mereka yang menyimpang daripada hakikat diri yang sejati hendaklah diketahui sebagai yang paling hina—tiada perlu diperdebatkan lagi. Yama sentiasa mengenal Viṣṇu, Pemberi rupa hakiki pengetahuan.

Word by Word

• svarūpāt: than (its) own form/nature
• svarūpāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• adhamā: lower/inferior
• adhamā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• jñeyā: is to be known
• jñeyā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भाव्य/कर्तव्य (gerundive)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• kāryā: to be done/necessary
• kāryā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• vicāraṇā: consideration/inquiry
• vicāraṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• jñāna-svarūpa-dam: the giver of knowledge-nature
• jñāna-svarūpa-dam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √dā ‘to give’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानस्वरूपं ददाति’ (giver of the nature of knowledge)

• viṣṇum: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• yamaḥ: Yama
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• jānāti: knows
• jānāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

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

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: To fall from svarūpa (one’s essential nature) is spiritual degradation; Vishnu is the source of jñāna-svarūpa, and even Yama recognizes this supremacy.

Vedantic Theme: Svarūpa-jñāna and the primacy of Brahman/Vishnu as the ground of knowledge; deviation from dharma/true nature as avidyā-driven fall.

Application: Practice self-inquiry and ethical alignment to avoid living against one’s conscience/essential values; anchor learning and discernment in devotion to the highest principle.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: passages asserting Vishnu’s supremacy over Yama and the afterlife order (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Yama

FAQs

What is the importance of 'svarūpa' (true nature) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats deviation from one’s essential spiritual nature as a decisive mark of degradation, implying that dharmic living is rooted in remembering and aligning with one’s true self.

How does this verse relate to Yama and the afterlife judgment described in the Garuda Purana?

It states that Yama—central to post-death judgment—always recognizes Vishnu as the source of true knowledge, framing afterlife justice within a higher spiritual authority.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate clarity and integrity: live in alignment with dharma and seek knowledge that refines the self, rather than habits that pull one away from one’s better nature.