Shloka 31

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

स्वदारभोगे केवलां प्रीतिमेवं हरेरेवं सर्वदाहं करोति / स्तम्बास्त्रादीन्धारियिष्ये सदैव विष्णोः प्रीत्यर्थं नैव गात्रार्थमेव

Transliteration

svadārabhoge kevalāṃ prītimevaṃ harerevaṃ sarvadāhaṃ karoti / stambāstrādīndhāriyiṣye sadaiva viṣṇoḥ prītyarthaṃ naiva gātrārthameva

Translation

Quando alguém busca deleite apenas no gozo com a própria esposa, isso se torna um ardor constante, ainda que pense: “Isto é amor por Hari.” Por isso, empreenderei sempre restrições e disciplinas—como manter o corpo firme e suportar austeridades—somente para agradar a Vishnu, e não meramente por causa do corpo.

Word by Word

• स्वदारभोगे: in the enjoyment of one’s own wife
• स्वदारभोगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + दार + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य दाराणां भोगे)

• केवलाम्: only, mere
• केवलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; विशेषणम् (प्रीतिम्)

• प्रीतिम्: delight, affection
• प्रीतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time-adverb (कालवाचक)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• करोति: does, performs
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद; 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• स्तम्बास्त्रादीन्: stambha-weapon etc. (weapons like stambha)
• स्तम्बास्त्रादीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्ब + अस्त्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समासः—द्वन्द्व/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (स्तम्बाश्च अस्त्राणि च, तेषाम् आदयः)

• धारयिष्ये: I shall bear/hold
• धारयिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद; 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; time-adverb (कालवाचक)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• प्रीत्यर्थम्: for the sake of pleasure (to please)
• प्रीत्यर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रीति + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; accusative-form used adverbially (हेतुवाचक)

• न: not
• न: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation particle (निषेध)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle (अवधारण)

• गात्रार्थम्: for the body’s sake
• गात्रार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गात्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; accusative-form used adverbially (प्रयोजनवाचक)

• एव: only
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis particle

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purifying motivation: do not camouflage kama as bhakti; undertake tapas/samyama for Vishnu-priti, not for body-centered ends.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as antahkarana-shuddhi; discerning raga (attachment) from prema (devotional love); karma-yoga orientation (offering).

Application: Audit intentions: when ‘devotion’ is used to justify attachment, pause; adopt a small vrata/discipline (diet, speech, celibacy periods, simplicity) explicitly offered to Vishnu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana thematic parallels on tapas, restraint, and devotion as purifier (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari

FAQs

What is the importance of sense-control (indriya-nigraha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames unchecked attachment—even when rationalized as “love for Hari”—as a source of inner burning, and recommends discipline undertaken specifically to please Vishnu.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana’s teachings?

By emphasizing intention (Vishnu-prīti) over bodily gratification, it aligns one’s actions with dharma and spiritual merit, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly links to a better post-death course and relief from suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat pleasure and bodily routines as secondary; practice restraint and steady habits (austerity, moderation, devotional discipline) with a clear spiritual intention rather than ego, indulgence, or mere bodily maintenance.