Shloka 40

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

सूर्योदये नास्ति यथा तमश्च तथाज्ञानं नास्तिनास्त्येव देव / करोम्यहं श्रवणं सर्वदैव हरिप्रीत्यर्थं निश्चतार्थं सतां हि

Transliteration

sūryodaye nāsti yathā tamaśca tathājñānaṃ nāstināstyeva deva / karomyahaṃ śravaṇaṃ sarvadaiva hariprītyarthaṃ niścatārthaṃ satāṃ hi

Translation

O Panginoon, kung paanong hindi nananatili ang dilim sa pagsikat ng araw, gayon din ang kamangmangan ay hindi nananatili—lubos itong napapawi. Kaya’t lagi akong nagsasagawa ng śravaṇa, ang banal na pakikinig, na may matibay na pasya para sa ikalulugod ni Hari—ito ang tiyak na landas ng mga banal.

Word by Word

• सूर्य-उदये: at sunrise
• सूर्य-उदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative/illustrative indeclinable (उपमान-अव्यय)

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-निपात)

• तथा: so, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• अज्ञानम्: ignorance
• अज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• देव: O god
• देव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• करोमि: I do
• करोमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• श्रवणम्: hearing, listening
• श्रवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-निपात)

• हरि-प्रीति-अर्थम्: for Hari's pleasure
• हरि-प्रीति-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; accusative-form meaning 'for the sake of'

• निश्चित-अर्थम्: with a settled purpose
• निश्चित-अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + चि (धातु) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) 'निश्चित' qualifying 'अर्थम्'; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• सताम्: of the good/saints
• सताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग) (or common-gender), Genitive (षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ignorance is dispelled like darkness at sunrise; constant śravaṇa (hearing sacred teachings) undertaken for Hari’s pleasure is the settled path of the good.

Vedantic Theme: Jñāna as prakāśa (illumination) removing avidyā; bhakti-śravaṇa as a direct purifier and stabilizer of realization (niṣṭhā).

Application: Establish a daily discipline of listening/reading śāstra or Hari-kathā, especially at morning/evening; treat it as non-negotiable nourishment for clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic/temporal threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.41-42 (aparokṣa removes ajñāna)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of śravaṇa (hearing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents śravaṇa—listening to Hari’s teachings—as a direct means to dispel ajñāna (ignorance), just as sunrise removes darkness, making it a central devotional practice for inner purification.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey discussed in the Preta Kanda?

Preta Kanda focuses on post-death realities and the consequences of karma; this verse highlights the preventative spiritual discipline—devotional hearing of Hari—that removes ignorance, strengthens dharma, and supports a favorable course for the jīva beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to or study Vishnu-oriented scriptures (Hari-kathā), maintain steady resolve, and align daily actions with devotion—using śravaṇa as a simple, consistent practice to reduce confusion and cultivate ethical clarity.