Shloka 99

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छतगुणैर्हीनः शतधन्वा महासुरः / समानस्तस्य विज्ञेयः कर्मारिर्दैत्यसत्तमः

Transliteration

tasmācchataguṇairhīnaḥ śatadhanvā mahāsuraḥ / samānastasya vijñeyaḥ karmārirdaityasattamaḥ

Translation

Посему великий асура Шатадханва в сто раз слабее; а Кармари, лучший среди дайтьев, должен быть признан равным ему.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from that/than him
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; अपादान/तुलना

• शत-गुणैः: by a hundred qualities
• शत-गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण

• हीनः: deficient
• हीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शतधन्वा: Śatadhanvā (name)
• शतधन्वा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतधन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नकारान्त-प्रातिपदिक (धन्वन्) विशेषरूप

• महासुरः: great demon
• महासुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समानः: equal
• समानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• विज्ञेयः: should be recognized (as)
• विज्ञेयः: Vidhi/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कर्मारिः: Karmāri (name)
• कर्मारिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दैत्य-सत्तमः: best of the Daityas
• दैत्य-सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Relative valuation: even within adharma-aligned beings, superiority is only comparative and does not confer true excellence.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-based gradations within prakṛti; absence of sattva leads to endless comparison and rivalry.

Application: Avoid envy and status fixation; measure progress by virtue and self-mastery rather than external rank.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.98 (preceding comparison); Garuda Purana 3.12.100-102 (subsequent hierarchy and moral turn)

Characters & Entities

• Śatadhanvā
• Karmāri
• Daityas
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of ranking Daityas and Asuras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a comparative hierarchy among named Daityas/Asuras, helping readers understand relative power and status within Purāṇic cosmology.

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

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it functions as a cosmological comparison of beings, which forms the broader mythic backdrop to the Purana’s teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that traditions often classify forces and tendencies (constructive/destructive) in graded ways—encouraging discernment about what influences one’s conduct and choices.