Shloka 102

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

तच्छरीराभिमानी तु तस्माच्छतगुणैर्वरः / तस्माच्छतगुणैहींनो हस्तमानसुरो महान्

Transliteration

taccharīrābhimānī tu tasmācchataguṇairvaraḥ / tasmācchataguṇaihīṃno hastamānasuro mahān

Translation

然而，认同于那（微细）身者，比其高胜百倍；但较此“认身之理”又逊百倍者，即名为哈斯塔玛那阿修罗（Hastamānāsura）之大者。

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/relational in compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• शरीराभिमानी: the body-identifying (entity)
• शरीराभिमानी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास: शरीर-अभिमानिन् (one who identifies with the body); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक (adversative/emphatic particle)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; "therefore/from that"

• शतगुणैः: by/with hundredfold (measures)
• शतगुणैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: शत-गुण; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वरः: superior
• वरः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative adjective)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: अपादान (Apādāna/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शतगुणैः: by/with hundredfold
• शतगुणैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: शत-गुण; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• हीनः: devoid (of)
• हीनः: विशेषण (Adjectival predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; "devoid"

• हस्तमानसुरः: the hasta-mānasura (hand-being)
• हस्तमानसुरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त + मानसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास: हस्त-मानसुर (hand-related mānasura); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• महान्: great
• महान्: विशेषण (Adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Degrees of identification (abhimāna) determine spiritual refinement; even subtle-body identification is a stage, not the final truth.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka between Self and body/subtle body; progression from gross to subtle to witness-consciousness; abhimāna as bondage.

Application: Practice self-inquiry and mindfulness: notice identification with sensations/thoughts; cultivate witness stance through japa, meditation, and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.101 (virtue criterion for deva/asura)

Characters & Entities

• Hastamānāsura
• Subtle body (liṅga-śarīra)

FAQs

What is the importance of body-identification (śarīrābhimāna) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that mere bodily structure is not primary; the key factor is the identifying principle (abhimāna) that appropriates the body as “I,” which is treated as a higher operative power in the post-death framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It implies a graded post-death ontology: the journey is governed not only by the subtle body but by the consciousness that clings to identity. Such gradations determine the soul’s experience in preta states and other realms described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice reducing rigid self-identification with body and ego through dharma, japa, and detachment; this aligns conduct with the Purana’s emphasis that consciousness and identification shape one’s afterlife trajectory.