Shloka 14
Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana
तथैव जानीहि खग नान्यथा तु कथञ्चन / अहं विजानामि मयि स्थितान् गुणान्सर्वैर्विशेषैश्च खगेन्द्र संयुतान्
tathaiva jānīhi khaga nānyathā tu kathañcana / ahaṃ vijānāmi mayi sthitān guṇānsarvairviśeṣaiśca khagendra saṃyutān
จงรู้ดังนี้เถิด โอ้ผู้เป็นนก อย่าได้เข้าใจเป็นอื่นโดยประการใดเลย โอ้จอมแห่งนก เรารู้คุณธรรมทั้งหลายที่สถิตอยู่ในเรา อันประกอบพร้อมด้วยความวิเศษทุกประการ
Lord Vishnu
Concept: Certainty in revealed teaching and recognition that all guṇas/excellences abide in the Supreme; īśvara knows His own attributes fully.
Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sarvajñatva; saguna-brahman as locus of all auspicious qualities (ananta-kalyāṇa-guṇa).
Application: Hold śāstra-guru instruction with steadiness; cultivate bhakti grounded in understanding of divine excellences rather than doubt or speculation.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring teacherly refrain ‘evam jānīhi’ in doctrinal passages (contextual)
FAQs
This verse stresses fidelity to revealed instruction: Garuda is told to understand the teaching exactly, because it is grounded in Vishnu’s direct knowledge of the principles being taught.
Vishnu asserts epistemic authority—He knows the abiding qualities and distinctions—thereby establishing trust in the subsequent teachings on subtle realities and post-death matters discussed with Garuda.
Approach sacred texts and rites with precision and humility: learn from a reliable source, avoid improvising core principles, and align conduct with clearly understood dharma.