Shloka 18

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

विष्णोर्भद्रे हस्तपादादिकानां भेदज्ञानं द्वेषमाहुर्महान्तः / अवताराणा छेदभेदादिकं च तथोच्यते मरणस्यापि चिन्ता

Transliteration

viṣṇorbhadre hastapādādikānāṃ bhedajñānaṃ dveṣamāhurmahāntaḥ / avatārāṇā chedabhedādikaṃ ca tathocyate maraṇasyāpi cintā

Translation

Hỡi bậc cát tường, các bậc hiền trí nói rằng: nghĩ đến sự phân biệt nơi Viṣṇu—như cho rằng tay, chân và các chi thể của Ngài có khác biệt—là một dạng đối nghịch (dveṣa). Cũng vậy, nói về các hóa thân của Ngài như “bị cắt”, “bị chia” v.v., và thậm chí lo lắng về “cái chết” của Ngài, cũng được nói là cùng một lỗi lầm nặng nề.

Word by Word

• viṣṇoḥ: of Vishnu
• viṣṇoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhadre: in the auspicious (Lord) / O auspicious one
• bhadre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); संबोधन/प्रयोगे ‘O auspicious one’ also possible; here taken as locative ‘in the auspicious (Lord)’

• hasta-pāda-ādikānām: of hands, feet, etc.
• hasta-pāda-ādikānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (हस्तपादादयः)

• bheda-jñānam: knowledge of difference
• bheda-jñānam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bheda (प्रातिपदिक) + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (भेदस्य ज्ञानम्)

• dveṣam: hatred
• dveṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• mahāntaḥ: the great ones (sages)
• mahāntaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• avatārāṇām: of the incarnations
• avatārāṇām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• cheda-bheda-ādikam: cutting, dividing, etc.
• cheda-bheda-ādikam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cheda (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (छेदभेदादि)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• ucyate: is said
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), ātmanepada-form

• maraṇasya: of death
• maraṇasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि = also/even)

• cintā: (this) concern/thought
• cintā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bheda-jñāna (fragmenting distinctions) regarding Viṣṇu’s limbs or speaking of avatāras as ‘cut/divided’—and imagining His ‘death’—is treated as dveṣa, because it denies His non-dual, imperishable nature.

Vedantic Theme: Abheda of Brahman/Īśvara; avatāra as līlā without real division; ajaratva/amaratva (deathlessness) of the Supreme.

Application: Use reverent, theologically careful language: describe avatāras as manifestations (āvirbhāva) rather than divisions; contemplate the Lord as akhaṇḍa and nitya; avoid sensational or reductive talk about divine form.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.17 (status-comparison as dveṣa); Garuda Purana 3.24.19 (dveṣa toward devotees and their words)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Avatars

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding ‘bheda-jñāna’ (division-thinking) about Vishnu in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames such division-thinking as ‘dveṣa’—a hostile misconception—because it treats the divine, deathless Lord as a materially divisible body.

How does this verse explain the nature of Vishnu and His avatars?

It teaches that Vishnu and His incarnations are not subject to cutting, splitting, or death; describing them in those terms is considered a serious theological error.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate respectful, non-reductive devotion: avoid mocking or materializing the divine form, and focus on reverence, unity of the Lord’s being, and steady bhakti.