Shloka 15

Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas

Devanagari script

दूराच्छ्रवणविज्ञानं दूराद्दर्शनगोचरम् / सर्वे शृण्वन्ति यत्पक्षिंस्तेनैव श्रवणा मताः

Transliteration

dūrācchravaṇavijñānaṃ dūrāddarśanagocaram / sarve śṛṇvanti yatpakṣiṃstenaiva śravaṇā matāḥ

Translation

Его узнают по слуху даже издалека, а в поле зрения он попадает лишь при приближении. Поскольку все слышат ту птицу, потому их и считают «Шраваṇa» — «слышащими».

Word by Word

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: Deshadhikarana/Source adverbial (स्थान/अपादानार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (ablatival adverb)

• श्रवणविज्ञानम्: knowledge of hearing
• श्रवणविज्ञानम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्रवणस्य विज्ञानम्)

• दूरात्: from afar
• दूरात्: Deshadhikarana/Source adverbial (स्थान/अपादानार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण

• दर्शनगोचरम्: within the range of sight
• दर्शनगोचरम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + गोचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दर्शनस्य गोचरम्)

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• शृण्वन्ति: hear
• शृण्वन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक (relative)

• पक्षिन्: bird
• पक्षिन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Karana/Hetu (Instrument/Cause/करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• श्रवणाः: hearers (by nature)
• श्रवणाः: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• मताः: are considered
• मताः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Some realities are apprehended first by śruti (hearing) rather than direct sight; unseen agencies can be known by their effects.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa reflection: śabda/śruti as a means of knowledge; the subtle precedes the gross in apprehension.

Application: Respect testimony and inference where direct perception is limited; cultivate inner listening and discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: aerial vantage

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: motif of recorders/messengers known by signs rather than sight (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘hearing’ (śravaṇa) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse highlights that certain beings/signs are recognized first by sound—heard from a distance—while sight confirms only when they come closer, emphasizing śravaṇa as an early mode of knowing.

How does this verse relate to the Preta Kanda’s discussion of the post-death journey?

Preta Kanda often describes subtle, transitional conditions where perception may be indirect; this verse underscores that in such contexts, hearing can precede or outweigh visual certainty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate discernment: do not rely only on what is immediately visible; verify information carefully, and treat early signals (reports, sounds, warnings) as prompts for mindful action rather than panic.