Shloka 6

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / आनन्दांशैर्विहीनत्वमपेक्ष्यैव खगाधिप / उत्तरेषामुत्तरेषां योगादेवमिति स्फुटम्

Transliteration

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / ānandāṃśairvihīnatvamapekṣyaiva khagādhipa / uttareṣāmuttareṣāṃ yogādevamiti sphuṭam

Translation

శ్రీకృష్ణుడు పలికెను—హే ఖగాధిపా (గరుడా)! ఆనందాంశముల క్రమక్రమమైన విహీనతను పరిగణించగా, ఉత్తరోత్తర స్థితులలో ఇది కేవలం విశేషయోగం (కారణసంయోగం) వలననే జరుగుతుందని స్పష్టమగును.

Word by Word

• श्री-कृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्री-कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास (honorific epithet); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आनन्द-अंशैः: by portions of bliss
• आनन्द-अंशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (‘portions of bliss’); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया/करण, बहुवचन

• विहीनत्वम्: lack/devoidness
• विहीनत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहीनत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/कर्म, एकवचन

• अपेक्ष्य: considering
• अपेक्ष्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + ईक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having regard to/considering’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• खगाधिप: O lord of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगाधिप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (‘lord of birds’); पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• उत्तरेषाम्: of the later/higher ones
• उत्तरेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध, बहुवचन; (of the subsequent/higher ones)

• उत्तरेषाम्: of the later (and later) ones
• उत्तरेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for gradation)

• योगात्: due to (their) connection/gradation
• योगात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी/अपादान (Ablative, 5th case), एकवचन; कारणार्थे (causal sense: ‘due to’)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय

• इति: thus (quoting)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• स्फुटम्: clearly
• स्फुटम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक द्वितीया एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as the instructing divine speaker, aligned with the Vishnu-Nārāyaṇa role in Garuḍa Purāṇa dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Progressive absence of portions of bliss explains later states; the pattern arises from specific conjunction/combination (yoga) of causes/conditions.

Vedantic Theme: Causal conditioning (upādhi/saṃyoga) shaping experienced ānanda; clarity that gradation is contingent, not absolute in Brahman.

Application: Diagnose experience by tracing conditions: changes in joy/clarity often follow changes in supporting causes (habits, guṇas, environment).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.4 (diminution schema); Garuda Purana 3.19.7 (measure and infinite excellence)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Garuda (Khagādhipa)

FAQs

What is the importance of diminishing 'ānanda' (bliss) in Garuda Purana teachings?

This verse frames post-death or successive experiential states as marked by reduced shares of bliss, helping explain why certain realms or conditions feel progressively less fulfilling.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul through different states?

It implies that the soul’s successive conditions are not random; they arise from specific causal combinations (yoga)—the linkage of karma, tendencies, and circumstances that shape experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma and sattvic habits so the “conjunction of causes” supporting your future experiences aligns with clarity and inner peace rather than diminishing satisfaction.