Shloka 85
Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa
On the Causes/Means of Knowledge
तस्माद्दशगुणांशोनो विप्रचित्तिस्तु सर्वदा / जरासंधः स एवोक्तः कालनेमिस्ततः परम्
tasmāddaśaguṇāṃśono vipracittistu sarvadā / jarāsaṃdhaḥ sa evoktaḥ kālanemistataḥ param
เพราะฉะนั้น วิปรจิตติจึงถูกกล่าวว่าเล็กกว่าผู้นั้นอยู่สิบเท่าเสมอ ผู้นั้นเองเรียกว่า ‘ชราสันธะ’ และถัดจากนั้นคือ ‘กาลเนมิ’.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)
Concept: Beings recur across ages with graded potency; names shift while underlying tendencies persist—suggesting continuity of vāsanā and karmic momentum.
Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra continuity across embodiments; guṇa-dominance (tamas/rajas) shapes repeated patterns until transformed by knowledge and devotion.
Application: Observe recurring harmful patterns in oneself/society; address root tendencies rather than only external labels; cultivate counter-saṃskāras through discipline and devotion.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12 (sequence of asuric identifications and relative measures)
FAQs
This verse preserves Purāṇic cross-identifications—showing how one being is known by multiple names across ages—supporting the text’s genealogical and mythic mapping.
It functions as a catalog-style statement within a larger discourse, where Vishnu enumerates beings and their relative standing, using alternate names to connect different traditions and episodes.
Use it as a reminder to study scripture contextually: names and identities can shift across Purāṇas, so careful cross-reading reduces confusion and deepens understanding of dhārmic narratives.