Shloka 75

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

द्विमासहीनां तुलसीमप्रसूतां च गां नवाम् / ते सर्वे ह्यसुरा ज्ञेया नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

dvimāsahīnāṃ tulasīmaprasūtāṃ ca gāṃ navām / te sarve hyasurā jñeyā nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

未满两个月的图拉西（tulasī）与尚未产犊、仍属新牛之母牛——凡此等供物/对象皆当知为“阿修罗性”（不堪用于圣仪）；于此无须再作思量。

Word by Word

• द्वि-मास-हीनाम्: lacking two months (i.e., less than two months old)
• द्वि-मास-हीनाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘द्वाभ्यां मासाभ्यां हीना’ (lacking two months), तुलसीम्-विशेषण

• तुलसीम्: tulasī (holy basil)
• तुलसीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अ-प्रसूताम्: unsprouted/unborn
• अ-प्रसूताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + प्रसूता (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √सू)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेधः ‘not produced/not sprouted’, तुलसीम्-विशेषण

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

• गाम्: cow
• गाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नवाम्: new/young
• नवाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गाम्-विशेषण

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• असुराः: asuras
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयाः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेया (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भाव्य (gerundive)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here/in this matter)

• कार्या: necessary
• कार्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विचारणा-विशेषण

• विचारणा: consideration
• विचारणा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual fitness (yogyatā): immature tulasī and an uncalved/new cow are deemed unfit/‘asuric’ for sacred use.

Vedantic Theme: Outer discipline as support for inner devotion; dharma as preparatory order (sādhana-bhūta) for sattva and bhakti.

Application: Follow tradition-specific standards for offerings and sacred resources; prioritize welfare and natural readiness over hurried ritual use.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/temple ritual space (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tulasī and Vishnu worship praise passages (general); Garuda Purana: rules for pūjā-dravya and śauca (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Tulasī
• Cow (Go)

FAQs

What is the importance of this rule in Garuda Purana death rituals?

It sets a clear standard of ritual suitability: certain items (like an immature tulasī or an uncalved “new” cow) are deemed unfit for śrāddha-related sanctity, so practitioners avoid them to prevent defects (doṣa) in rites for the departed.

How does this verse relate to helping the soul after death?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct materials and purity in post-death rites are emphasized so that offerings meant to aid the preta are not weakened by improper or ritually unsuitable substitutes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha or related observances, use mature, properly established sacred items and avoid shortcuts—choose offerings and supports that are traditionally accepted as fit (śuddha/ārya) rather than doubtful substitutes.