Shloka 82

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

प्रज्ञाहीनस्य पठनं यथान्धस्य च दर्पणम् / अतः प्रज्ञावतां शास्त्रं तत्त्वज्ञानस्य लक्षणम्

Transliteration

prajñāhīnasya paṭhanaṃ yathāndhasya ca darpaṇam / ataḥ prajñāvatāṃ śāstraṃ tattvajñānasya lakṣaṇam

Translation

प्रज्ञाहीनस्य पठनं यथान्धस्य च दर्पणम्। अतः प्रज्ञावतां शास्त्रं तत्त्वज्ञानस्य लक्षणम्॥

Word by Word

• प्रज्ञा-हीनस्य: of one devoid of wisdom
• प्रज्ञा-हीनस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्रज्ञया हीनः) — ‘devoid of wisdom’ (genitive: of a wisdomless person)

• पठनम्: reading, study
• पठनम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पठन (प्रातिपदिक; √पठ् (धातु) से भाववाचक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; abstract noun ‘reading/study’

• यथा: just as
• यथा: सम्बन्ध (उपमान-निर्देशक/marker of simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा/तुलना-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• अन्धस्य: of a blind man
• अन्धस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (समुच्चय/coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दर्पणम्: a mirror
• दर्पणम्: उपमान (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: सम्बन्ध (हेतु/causal connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निगमन-अव्यय (therefore/for this reason)

• प्रज्ञावताम्: of the wise
• प्रज्ञावताम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रज्ञावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; ‘wise persons’

• शास्त्रम्: scripture, treatise
• शास्त्रम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तत्त्व-ज्ञानस्य: of knowledge of reality
• तत्त्व-ज्ञानस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (तत्त्वस्य ज्ञानम्)

• लक्षणम्: a mark, characteristic
• लक्षणम्: विशेष्य-निर्देश (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate nominative

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without prajñā (discernment), śāstra-study is useless; for the discerning, śāstra is a valid indicator and means toward tattva-jñāna.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāritva: the instrument (śāstra) requires a prepared mind; prajñā/viveka enables śāstra to function as pramāṇa for Brahman/Ātman.

Application: Cultivate discernment through ethical living, reflection, and guidance; study with inquiry and application rather than rote reading.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.81; Garuda Purana 2.49.84

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of discernment (prajñā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without prajñā, even scripture-reading is ineffective; with prajñā, śāstra becomes a direct indicator and means of tattva-jñāna (true understanding).

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death teachings in the Garuda Purana?

Preta Kanda instructions are meant to be understood and applied; mere recitation without insight cannot transform conduct, whereas discernment helps one grasp the principles that guide karma and the post-death path.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study sacred texts with reflection, guidance, and ethical practice—prioritizing understanding and inner transformation over mechanical chanting or reading.