Shloka 92

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

द्वापारख्यो महाहासोबाणासुरसमः स्मृतः / तस्माद्दशगुणैर्हीनो नमुचिदैत्यसत्तमः

Transliteration

dvāpārakhyo mahāhāsobāṇāsurasamaḥ smṛtaḥ / tasmāddaśaguṇairhīno namucidaityasattamaḥ

Translation

ద్వాపరుడనే రాక్షసుడు పరాక్రమంలో బాణాసురునికి సమానుడని స్మరించబడ్డాడు; కానీ దైత్యులలో శ్రేష్ఠుడైన నముచి అతనికంటే పది గుణములు తక్కువవాడు.

Word by Word

• द्वापार-ख्यः: called Dvāpāra
• द्वापार-ख्यः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वापार + ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); “named Dvāpāra”

• महाहासो-बाणासुर-समः: equal to Mahāhāsa and Bāṇāsura
• महाहासो-बाणासुर-समः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाहास + बाणासुर + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); comparison adjective “equal to Mahāhāsa and Bāṇāsura”

• स्मृतः: is said/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively “is remembered/considered”

• तस्मात्: from that (one)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• दशगुणैः: by tenfold (degrees)
• दशगुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); measure of comparison

• हीनः: less (by)
• हीनः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); “devoid/less by” with instrumental

• नमुचि-दैत्य-सत्तमः: Namuci, best of the daityas
• नमुचि-दैत्य-सत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमुचि + दैत्य + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); “Namuci, the best of demons”

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Power and excellence are quantifiable in narrative terms, implying accumulated karma and guṇa differences.

Vedantic Theme: Relative might is within vyāvahārika reality; true liberation lies beyond such gradations.

Application: Recognize that worldly ‘strength’ is relative; prioritize inner discipline and devotion over competitive ranking.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.88–92 (closing portion of the comparative asura list segment)

Characters & Entities

• Banasura
• Namuci
• Daityas
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of comparing Daityas like Banasura and Namuci in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a graded hierarchy of asuric powers, using well-known figures to calibrate relative strength and rank within Purāṇic cosmology.

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

Indirectly: by mapping cosmic hierarchies and beings, it supports the Purāṇic worldview in which the soul’s journey is described alongside realms and powerful entities that populate the universe.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages humility and discernment: power is shown as relative and graded, reminding readers to prioritize dharma over displays of strength or dominance.