Shloka 16

Sup–Tiṅ Foundations: Prātipadika, Vibhaktis/Kārakas, and Lakāras

Tense–Mood System

Devanagari script

स्मृत्यर्थकर्मणि तथा करोतेः प्रतियत्नके / हिंसार्थानां प्रयोगे च कृति कर्मणि कर्तरि

Transliteration

smṛtyarthakarmaṇi tathā karoteḥ pratiyatnake / hiṃsārthānāṃ prayoge ca kṛti karmaṇi kartari

Translation

在为忆念而行的诸业中，亦如动词“作”(karoteḥ)当含有刻意用力之意时；又在表示伤害、暴力之动词用法中——若采用 kṛt 派生形——其句式可按 karman（受事、宾格）或按 kartṛ（施事、主格）两义而取。

Word by Word

• स्मृत्यर्थकर्मणि: in an action meant for remembrance
• स्मृत्यर्थकर्मणि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—(स्मृत्यर्थं कर्म) इति तत्पुरुषः, तस्मिन् (कर्मणि) इति सप्तमी

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• करोतेः: of (the verb) ‘karoti’ / of √kṛ
• करोतेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: धातुनिर्देशरूपं नाम; ‘करोतेः’ इति षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; (कृ-धातोः ‘करोति’ इति रूपनिर्देशस्य)

• प्रतियत्नके: in (a context of) counter-effort/active effort
• प्रतियत्नके: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतियत्नक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगानुसार), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेष्य-स्थानवाचक

• हिंसार्थानाम्: of those having the sense of violence
• हिंसार्थानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिंसा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—हिंसायाः अर्थः येषां ते (हिंसार्थ) इति तत्पुरुषः; तेषाम्

• प्रयोगे: in usage/application
• प्रयोगे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• कृति: in a kṛt-derivative (verbal noun/participle) context
• कृति: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; ‘कृत्-प्रत्ययान्ते’ इत्यर्थे (in kṛt-derivative context)

• कर्मणि: in the object (karma)
• कर्मणि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• कर्तरि: in the agent (kartṛ)
• कर्तरि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct syntactic interpretation (kartṛ/karman) depends on semantic intent (smṛtyartha, prayatna, hiṃsā) and kṛt-usage.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa: disciplined language as a means to reliable knowledge.

Application: Use semantic cues to decide whether a kṛt-form construction should be read as agentive or objective; avoid misparsing in ritual/śāstra reading.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.205.17-20 (continuation of vyākaraṇa rules on kṛt/niṣṭhā/tiṅ-lakāra/puruṣa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of this grammatical rule in the Garuda Purana?

It guides correct interpretation of verses by clarifying when a kṛt-form can be read in agent-sense (kartari) or object-sense (karmani), preventing doctrinal or ritual meaning from being misread.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife teachings?

This particular verse is primarily grammatical, not eschatological; its role is indirect—ensuring accurate reading of later teachings on dharma, rites, and consequences of actions by fixing how actions and agents are expressed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When studying or reciting Sanskrit dharma texts, check whether a participle/derivative is intended as ‘doer’ or ‘done-to’; this improves translation accuracy and helps apply ethical teachings without confusion.