Shloka 46

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

अवतारेषु भारत्याः कदाचिज्ज्ञानपूर्वकम् / सर्वदा ज्ञानरूपा सा सर्वदुः खविवर्जिता

Transliteration

avatāreṣu bhāratyāḥ kadācijjñānapūrvakam / sarvadā jñānarūpā sā sarvaduḥ khavivarjitā

Translation

ଭାରତୀଙ୍କ ଅବତାରମାନେ କେବେ କେବେ ଜ୍ଞାନପୂର୍ବକ ପ୍ରକଟ ହୁଅନ୍ତି; କିନ୍ତୁ ସେ ସଦା ଜ୍ଞାନସ୍ୱରୂପା ଏବଂ ସର୍ବଦା ସମସ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖରୁ ବିମୁକ୍ତ।

Word by Word

• avatāreṣu: in (the) incarnations
• avatāreṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bhāratyāḥ: of Bhāratī
• bhāratyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāratī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kadācit: sometimes
• kadācit: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• jñāna-pūrvakam: with prior knowledge; knowingly
• jñāna-pūrvakam: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (अव्ययीभाव-समास, क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग)

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

• jñāna-rūpā: of the nature of knowledge
• jñāna-rūpā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘knowledge-formed’)

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-duḥkha-vivarjitā: free from all sorrow
• sarva-duḥkha-vivarjitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + vivarjita (कृदन्त; वि+वृज्/वर्ज् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa compound; vivarjitā = past passive participle (क्त) ‘devoid of’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In avatāra contexts, Bhāratī may appear with different modes, yet her essence is always knowledge and untouched by sorrow.

Vedantic Theme: Svarūpa-lakṣaṇa vs upādhi/appearance; the untouched nature of pure consciousness/knowledge despite seeming modifications in līlā.

Application: When encountering fluctuating mental states, remember the ‘knowing’ principle is steady; cultivate identification with the witness-like clarity rather than transient sorrow.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.47 (apparent sorrow to delude daityas)

Characters & Entities

• Bhāratī (Sarasvatī/Vāc)

FAQs

What is the importance of Bhāratī (Sarasvatī) being called jñāna-rūpā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies Bhāratī as the very embodiment of knowledge, implying that true wisdom is intrinsically pure and not a product of sorrow; it is a divine principle that uplifts and clarifies dharma.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s freedom from suffering?

By stating that Bhāratī is always free from all duḥkha, the verse points to knowledge as a sorrow-transcending reality—suggesting that spiritual insight (jñāna) is aligned with liberation from grief and bondage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined study, truthful speech, and contemplative learning—treating knowledge as sacred—so that decisions are guided by clarity rather than fear or grief.