Shloka 109

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

त्वचा न गम्यः कूर्ंमश्च जिह्वाग्राह्यस्तथैव च / ग्राणोन्द्रियागम्य एव वाचाग्राह्यस्तथैव च (६५०)

Transliteration

tvacā na gamyaḥ kūrṃmaśca jihvāgrāhyastathaiva ca / grāṇondriyāgamya eva vācāgrāhyastathaiva ca (650)

Translation

กูรมะ (เต่า) นี้ไม่อาจรู้ได้ด้วยการสัมผัสทางผิวหนัง; รู้ได้ด้วยลิ้นเท่านั้น อีกทั้งเข้าถึงได้ด้วยอินทรีย์ดมกลิ่น และถูกยึดถือได้ด้วยวาจาเช่นกัน

Word by Word

• त्वचा: by/through the skin (touch)
• त्वचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• गम्यः: reachable; attainable
• गम्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम्य (कृदन्त; √गम् (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• कूर्मः: the tortoise (Kūrma)
• कूर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• जिह्वा: by/through the tongue (taste)
• जिह्वा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (instrumental sense in compound-resolution)

• ग्राह्यः: graspable; perceivable
• ग्राह्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राह्य (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• घ्राण: by/through the nose (smell)
• घ्राण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घ्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (instrumental sense in compound-resolution)

• इन्द्रिय: by/through the sense-organ
• इन्द्रिय: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (instrumental sense in compound-resolution)

• अगम्यः: inaccessible
• अगम्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगम्य (कृदन्त; √गम् (धातु) + यत्, नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• वाचा: by/through speech
• वाचा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• ग्राह्यः: graspable; expressible
• ग्राह्यः: Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्राह्य (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue addressing Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Epistemology of perception: different indriyas have different domains; some realities are not accessible to certain senses, implying the need for appropriate means of knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa-viveka (discerning valid means of knowledge); limitation of sensory knowledge; indirect knowledge via śabda (speech/śruti) hinted by 'vācāgrāhya'.

Application: Do not absolutize one mode of knowing (e.g., 'I didn’t see it, so it isn’t'); use appropriate tools—listening to śāstra/teacher, inference, and disciplined reflection for subtle truths.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.108-112 (series on atīndriya and knowability through mind/buddhi/jñāna)

FAQs

What is the importance of sense-perception (indriyas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that different objects are known through specific sense-channels, supporting the Purana’s broader teaching that mastery of the senses is essential for right conduct and spiritual progress.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing how perception depends on the senses, it points to the subtle mechanisms through which embodied experience operates—an idea used in Garuda Purana discussions of the jīva’s experience beyond gross physicality.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and clarity in sensory engagement—especially taste, smell, and speech—since disciplined indriyas support ethical living and steadier spiritual practice.