Shloka 105

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छतगुर्णैहीनश्चण्डमानसुरो महान् / तस्माच्छतगुर्णैर्हीनः शिश्रमानसुरो महान्

Transliteration

tasmācchatagurṇaihīnaścaṇḍamānasuro mahān / tasmācchatagurṇairhīnaḥ śiśramānasuro mahān

Translation

因此，名为旃陀摩那（Caṇḍamānā）的伟大阿修罗，低劣百倍；同样，名为尸湿罗摩那（Śiśramānā）的伟大阿修罗，也低劣百倍。

Word by Word

• 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

• चण्डमानसुरः: the fierce mānasura
• चण्डमानसुरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्ड + मानसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय समास: चण्ड-मानसुर (fierce mānasura); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• 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

• शिश्रमानसुरः: the śiśra-mānasura
• शिश्रमानसुरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिश्र + मानसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: शिश्र-मानसुर (phallus/sexual-organ-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 (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic taratamya: named presiding entities (Caṇḍamānā, Śiśramānā) are placed in a descending scale, emphasizing structured cosmos and relative capacities.

Vedantic Theme: Relative gradations within the manifest order (vyāvahārika hierarchy) contrasted implicitly with the non-graded absolute (paramārtha) beyond such measures.

Application: Adopt a ‘map not myth’ approach: treat the names as mnemonic markers for levels of mind/sense-function; use the hierarchy to refine meditation from grosser to subtler layers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12 (sequence of named mānāsuras and comparative measures)

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Caṇḍamānā
• Śiśramānā

FAQs

What is the importance of the phrase “śata-guṇair hīna” in the Garuda Purana?

It expresses a technical comparison—one being or state is said to be “hundredfold inferior,” emphasizing graded karmic outcomes and hierarchical differences in power/standing.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By using ranked comparisons, it supports the broader Preta Kanda theme that destinations, experiences, and statuses after death vary according to karma, with some conditions being markedly diminished relative to others.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat actions as having measurable consequences: cultivate dharma, restraint, and truthful conduct so one’s post-death condition is not described as “diminished” compared to higher states earned by merit.