Shloka 97

Devanagari script

यावन्नो मनसः स्थैर्यं न यावच्छास्त्रचिन्तनम् / यावन्न गुरुकारुण्यं तावत्तत्त्वकथा कुतः

Transliteration

yāvanno manasaḥ sthairyaṃ na yāvacchāstracintanam / yāvanna gurukāruṇyaṃ tāvattattvakathā kutaḥ

Translation

Selagi minda belum teguh, selagi belum ada renungan atas śāstra, dan selagi belum turun belas ihsan (anugerah) guru—hingga demikian, bagaimana mungkin ada wacana sejati tentang Tattva, Hakikat?

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as / until
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधि-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय; काल-परिमाण/सीमा-वाचक (limit/extent: 'as long as')

• naḥ: of us / our
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural) — 'of us/our'

• manasaḥ: of the mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular)

• sthairyam: steadiness
• sthairyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthairya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधि-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय; सीमा-वाचक (extent: 'as long as')

• śāstra-cintanam: reflection on scripture
• śāstra-cintanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + cintana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'thinking of/over scriptures'

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधि-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निबद्ध)
• Form: अव्यय; सीमा-वाचक (extent)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• guru-kāruṇyam: the guru’s compassion
• guru-kāruṇyam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + kāruṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'compassion of the guru'

• tāvat: so long / then
• tāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/परिणाम-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तावत्-शब्दः (correlative: 'so long/then')

• tattva-kathā: talk of truth
• tattva-kathā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'discourse about truth'

• kutaḥ: from where? / how possible?
• kutaḥ: Hetu/Prashna (हेतु/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb): 'whence/how'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tattva-katha requires (1) steadiness of mind, (2) sustained shastra-chintana, and (3) guru-karunya/kripa; without these, discourse on Reality remains ineffective.

Vedantic Theme: Shravana–manana–nididhyasana supported by shama and guru-upadesha; grace as the catalyst for direct realization.

Application: Establish daily meditation for steadiness, study a pramana text with guidance, seek a competent teacher, and cultivate humility and service to invite guru’s compassion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.95-96 (impediments); Garuda Purana 2.49.98 (rituals and learning without realization); Garuda Purana 2.49.99 (tattva-nishtha for moksha)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Shastra

FAQs

What is the importance of guru-kāruṇya (guru’s grace) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without the guru’s compassion/grace, genuine understanding and teaching of tattva (ultimate truth) does not properly arise, even if one attempts spiritual discussion.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death teachings in the Garuda Purana?

Preta Kanda emphasizes right knowledge to overcome fear and confusion about death and the afterlife; this verse frames the prerequisites for such right knowledge—mental steadiness, śāstra-reflection, and guru’s grace.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily mental steadiness (japa/meditation), study authoritative texts with reflection, and seek guidance with humility—so spiritual understanding becomes transformative rather than merely intellectual.