Shloka 100
Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa
On the Causes/Means of Knowledge
कालकेयस्तु विज्ञेयः सदा वेनसमो मतः / अधमानां तु दैत्यानामुत्तमैः साम्यमुच्यते
kālakeyastu vijñeyaḥ sadā venasamo mataḥ / adhamānāṃ tu daityānāmuttamaiḥ sāmyamucyate
Alamin na ang Kālakeya ay laging itinuturing na kapantay ni Vena; at sa hanay ng pinakahamak na mga Daitya, siya’y sinasabing kauri ng pinakamainam—ibig sabihin, siya’y binibilang na nangunguna kahit sa mga mababa.
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)
Concept: Low nature (adhama) can still exhibit relative excellence within its category; karmic disposition creates strata even among the fallen.
Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-bheda (differences in fitness) within tamasic/rajasic tendencies; relative merit does not transcend bondage.
Application: Do not normalize harmful categories by celebrating 'best among the worst'; aim to transform the category through virtue.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.101 (transition from catalog to daiva/asura criterion)
FAQs
The verse uses Vena as a benchmark of notorious adharma; equating Kālakeya with Vena signals extreme moral corruption and serves as a warning about destructive conduct.
By classifying beings by their moral quality (even among Daityas), it implies that karma creates gradations of status and outcome—those aligned with severe adharma are marked out for harsher consequences in the wider Purāṇic moral universe.
Avoid normalizing harmful behavior by “group standards”; the verse urges measuring conduct against dharma, since moral choices define one’s standing and future consequences.