Shloka 5

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

निर्णयं ब्रृहि गोविन्द सर्वज्ञोसि न संशयः / गरुडेनैवमुक्तस्तु वासुदेवोब्रवीद्ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

nirṇayaṃ brṛhi govinda sarvajñosi na saṃśayaḥ / garuḍenaivamuktastu vāsudevobravīddhruvam

Translation

“ହେ ଗୋବିନ୍ଦ! ଶେଷ ନିଷ୍କର୍ଷ କହ; ତୁମେ ସର୍ବଜ୍ଞ—ଏଥିରେ ସନ୍ଦେହ ନାହିଁ।” ଗରୁଡ ଏଭଳି କହିଲେ, ବାସୁଦେବ ନିଶ୍ଚୟରେ ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଲେ।

Word by Word

• निर्णयम्: decision/conclusion
• निर्णयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्णय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/कर्म (Accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रूहि: tell/speak
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गोविन्द: O Govinda
• गोविन्द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञः: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (‘all-knowing’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गरुडेन: by Garuḍa
• गरुडेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया/करण, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय (adverb)

• उक्तः: spoken/addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (with तु: ‘having been spoken/when addressed’)

• तु: but/then
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Garuḍa (addressing Lord Vishnu); narration notes Vāsudeva’s reply

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Seeking siddhānta (final determination) from the omniscient Lord; epistemic humility paired with trust in divine authority.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa and Īśvara as the reliable source for transcendent matters; siddhānta as resolution of doubt.

Application: When analysis reaches limits, seek a coherent conclusion from a trustworthy source; articulate the question precisely.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.6 (Vāsudeva’s reply begins)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Govinda
• Vāsudeva

FAQs

What is the importance of seeking a 'nirṇaya' (final conclusion) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows Garuḍa requesting a definitive, doubt-free conclusion from Govinda, establishing that the Purana’s guidance is meant to be taken as clear instruction rather than speculation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

It functions as a transition: Garuḍa asks the all-knowing Lord for certainty, after which Vishnu delivers authoritative teachings that frame subsequent explanations about dharma, consequences, and the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach ethical decisions and ritual duties by seeking clear, well-grounded guidance (śāstra and wise counsel) and acting without indecision or rationalized doubt.