Shloka 18

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

विष्णोर्भद्रे हस्तपादादिकानां भेदज्ञानं द्वेषमाहुर्महान्तः / अवताराणा छेदभेदादिकं च तथोच्यते मरणस्यापि चिन्ता

Transliteration

viṣṇorbhadre hastapādādikānāṃ bhedajñānaṃ dveṣamāhurmahāntaḥ / avatārāṇā chedabhedādikaṃ ca tathocyate maraṇasyāpi cintā

Translation

О благой, мудрецы говорят: мыслить различия в Вишну — будто Его руки, стопы и прочие члены различны между собой — есть вид враждебности (двеша). Так же и говорить о Его аватарах как о «разрубленных», «разделённых» и тому подобном, и даже тревожиться о Его «смерти», — также называется тем же самым (тяжким заблуждением).

Word by Word

• viṣṇoḥ: of Vishnu
• viṣṇoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhadre: in the auspicious (Lord) / O auspicious one
• bhadre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधन/प्रयोगे ‘O auspicious one’ also possible; here taken as locative ‘in the auspicious (Lord)’

• hasta-pāda-ādikānām: of hands, feet, etc.
• hasta-pāda-ādikānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (हस्तपादादयः)

• bheda-jñānam: knowledge of difference
• bheda-jñānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (भेदस्य ज्ञानम्)

• dveṣam: hatred
• dveṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahāntaḥ: the great ones (sages)
• mahāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• avatārāṇām: of the incarnations
• avatārāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• cheda-bheda-ādikam: cutting, dividing, etc.
• cheda-bheda-ādikam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cheda (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (छेदभेदादि)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• ucyate: is said
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), ātmanepada-form

• maraṇasya: of death
• maraṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also/even)

• cintā: (this) concern/thought
• cintā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bheda-jñāna (fragmenting distinctions) regarding Viṣṇu’s limbs or speaking of avatāras as ‘cut/divided’—and imagining His ‘death’—is treated as dveṣa, because it denies His non-dual, imperishable nature.

Vedantic Theme: Abheda of Brahman/Īśvara; avatāra as līlā without real division; ajaratva/amaratva (deathlessness) of the Supreme.

Application: Use reverent, theologically careful language: describe avatāras as manifestations (āvirbhāva) rather than divisions; contemplate the Lord as akhaṇḍa and nitya; avoid sensational or reductive talk about divine form.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.17 (status-comparison as dveṣa); Garuda Purana 3.24.19 (dveṣa toward devotees and their words)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Avatars

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding ‘bheda-jñāna’ (division-thinking) about Vishnu in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames such division-thinking as ‘dveṣa’—a hostile misconception—because it treats the divine, deathless Lord as a materially divisible body.

How does this verse explain the nature of Vishnu and His avatars?

It teaches that Vishnu and His incarnations are not subject to cutting, splitting, or death; describing them in those terms is considered a serious theological error.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate respectful, non-reductive devotion: avoid mocking or materializing the divine form, and focus on reverence, unity of the Lord’s being, and steady bhakti.