Shloka 59

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

निन्दां कुर्वन्ति ये विष्णोर्जिह्वाछेदं करोम्यहम् / तदर्थमेव वायोश्च अवतारः सदा भुवि

Transliteration

nindāṃ kurvanti ye viṣṇorjihvāchedaṃ karomyaham / tadarthameva vāyośca avatāraḥ sadā bhuvi

Translation

凡诽谤毗湿奴主者——我将割断其舌。正为此故，风神伐由（Vāyu）的化身恒常住于大地之上。

Word by Word

• निन्दाम्: censure
• निन्दाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• कुर्वन्ति: do / make
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• जिह्वाछेदम्: cutting of the tongue
• जिह्वाछेदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा-छेद (प्रातिपदिक; जिह्वा + छेद)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• करोमि: I do / I will perform
• करोमि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (gender-neutral usage)

• तदर्थम्: for that purpose
• तदर्थम्: Hetu/Purpose (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद्-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक; तद् + अर्थ)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adverbial accusative: 'for that purpose'

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण-अव्यय)

• वायोः: of Vāyu
• वायोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

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

• अवतारः: incarnation
• अवतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: feminine noun 'earth')
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiṣṇava-apacāra (slander of Vishnu) is a grave offense; divine agency (here via Vāyu) protects the sanctity of Vishnu’s name and honor.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-aparādha/īśa-nindā as a barrier to realization; dharma as protection of the sacred through right speech.

Application: Guard speech: refrain from reviling Vishnu or devotees; cultivate reverent discourse and corrective restraint when encountering blasphemy.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.58 (daityas fall into darkness); Garuda Purana 3.12.60-62 (right contemplation of nirguṇa Hari; avoiding defective imaginings)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of avoiding Vishnu-ninda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats slander of Viṣṇu as a grave adharma of speech, warning that such abuse of the tongue leads to severe retribution, emphasizing reverence and disciplined speech.

How does this verse explain the role of Vayu’s incarnation on earth?

It states that Vāyu’s avatāra remains on earth specifically to restrain or punish those who commit Viṣṇu-nindā, portraying divine enforcement of dharma related to speech.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid mocking or maligning sacred persons and deities; practice truthful, respectful speech, and treat criticism as constructive rather than abusive—especially in religious discourse.