Shloka 40

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

इदं तु परमं गोप्यं तवोक्तं च खगेश्वर / न कस्यापि च वक्तव्यं गोप्यत्वात्खगसत्तम / इतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि तारतम्यं शृणु प्रभो

Transliteration

idaṃ tu paramaṃ gopyaṃ tavoktaṃ ca khageśvara / na kasyāpi ca vaktavyaṃ gopyatvātkhagasattama / itaḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi tāratamyaṃ śṛṇu prabho

Translation

Ó senhor das aves, o que disseste é um segredo supremamente oculto; por ser confidencial, não deve ser dito a qualquer pessoa, ó o melhor dos pássaros. Doravante explicarei as gradações (distinções relativas); escuta, ó mestre.

Word by Word

• idam: this (teaching)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle/conjunction (emphasis/contrast)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; superlative adjective

• gopyam: secret/confidential
• gopyam: Visheshya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gopya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective ‘to be kept secret’

• tava: by you/your
• tava: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case, Genitive), एकवचन; pronoun

• uktam: spoken
• uktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘said/spoken’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• khaga-īśvara: O lord of birds
• khaga-īśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘of birds’ + ‘lord’)

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation particle

• kasya: of anyone
• kasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; interrogative/indefinite in negation

• api: even/at all
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle ‘even/also’ (with negation: ‘any’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• vaktavyam: to be told
• vaktavyam: Vidhi (विधि/आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + tavya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory passive); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be spoken/should be told’

• gopyatvāt: because of secrecy
• gopyatvāt: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopyatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case, Ablative), एकवचन; abstract noun

• khaga-sattama: O best of birds
• khaga-sattama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘best’ qualifying ‘bird’)

• itaḥ: hence/thereafter
• itaḥ: Desha/Kala-adhikarana (देश/काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: itaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb (from here/thereafter)

• param: further/next
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case, Accusative), एकवचन; used adverbially ‘further’

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain
• pravakṣyāmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tāratamyam: gradation/hierarchy
• tāratamyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāratamya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; abstract noun ‘gradation’

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Ajna (आज्ञा)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• prabho: O lord
• prabho: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rahasya-upadeśa: confidential teachings require discernment in transmission; tāratamya indicates hierarchical/graded understanding (devatā/paths/practices).

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-bheda (eligibility) and krama (graded instruction) as pedagogical principles; guarding sacred knowledge from misuse.

Application: Share sensitive spiritual teachings responsibly; teach according to the listener’s readiness; cultivate attentive listening and disciplined study.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: multiple ‘guhya/rahasya’ markers preceding higher teachings; immediate continuation promised on ‘tāratamya’ (gradation).

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of secrecy (gopya) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse stresses that certain teachings are meant for qualified recipients, because misusing or misunderstanding them can distort dharma; hence they are to be shared with discernment.

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

It serves as a transition: Vishnu signals that he will next describe ‘tāratamya’—graded distinctions—often used in Garuda Purana to clarify relative outcomes, duties, and spiritual principles connected to post-death teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred or sensitive spiritual guidance responsibly—learn from authentic sources, share carefully, and focus on ethical living rather than sensationalizing confidential doctrine.