Shloka 11

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

तत्र दृष्ट्वाल्पबुद्धींश्च विष्णुर्व्यासस्वरूपधृक् / तदेकन्तु यजुर्वेदं? चतुर्धा व्यभजत्पुनः

Transliteration

tatra dṛṣṭvālpabuddhīṃśca viṣṇurvyāsasvarūpadhṛk / tadekantu yajurvedaṃ? caturdhā vyabhajatpunaḥ

Translation

وہاں کم فہم لوگوں کو دیکھ کر وشنو نے وِیاس کا روپ دھارا اور اس ایک یجُروید کو پھر چار حصّوں میں تقسیم کر دیا۔

Word by Word

• तत्र: there/then
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालयोरव्यय (adverb)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Gerundial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having seen)

• अल्पबुद्धीन्: those of little understanding
• अल्पबुद्धीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘अल्पा बुद्धिः येषाम्’ (of little intellect)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• व्यासस्वरूपधृक्: assuming the form of Vyāsa
• व्यासस्वरूपधृक्: Karta (Predicate/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक् (धृ (धातु) + क्विप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘व्यासस्य स्वरूपं धारयति’ (bearing the form of Vyāsa)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘that (Veda)’

• एकम्: one (single)
• एकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of यजुर्वेदम्)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• यजुर्वेदम्: the Yajurveda
• यजुर्वेदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चतुर्धा: into four (parts)
• चतुर्धा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/विभागवाचक (adverb: into four parts)

• व्यभजत्: divided
• व्यभजत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्ग: वि- (vy- sandhi)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb: again)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative reference to Vishnu as Vyasa; typically conveyed by Lord Vishnu to Garuda in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Scriptural pedagogy adapts to human capacity; Viṣṇu, as Vyāsa, divides Veda to preserve and transmit dharma and knowledge in a declining age.

Vedantic Theme: Anugraha (grace) through śāstra; śruti as pramāṇa made accessible via vyākhyāna/vibhāga; compassion of Īśvara in guiding jīvas toward right knowledge and practice.

Application: Study scripture in structured ways (sections, curricula, commentaries); teach according to learners’ capacity; preserve knowledge through careful organization and transmission.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana references to Vyāsa, Veda division, and śāstra-pravṛtti in Purva-khanda

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vyasa
• Yajurveda

FAQs

What is the importance of dividing the Veda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the division as an act of compassion and dharma-protection: to make sacred knowledge workable for people with limited capacity, ensuring Vedic practice and understanding can continue.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader spiritual instruction?

By grounding dharma in an organized Vedic foundation, it supports the Purana’s later teachings on right conduct, rites, and liberation—showing that scripture is arranged to guide beings according to their ability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach spiritual study in structured steps suited to your capacity—learn systematically, seek qualified guidance, and prioritize clear practice over mere quantity of information.