Shloka 84

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

तस्माच्छतगुणांशेन कलिभार्या तु सर्वदा / अलक्ष्मीरिति विख्याता सा लोके मन्थरा स्मृता

Transliteration

tasmācchataguṇāṃśena kalibhāryā tu sarvadā / alakṣmīriti vikhyātā sā loke mantharā smṛtā

Translation

因此，她恒为迦梨之妻，具百倍之分。她以“阿拉克什弥”（不祥、失福）而闻名，世间亦忆之为“曼陀罗”——带来阻碍者。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्; तद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतौ/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (ablatival indeclinable: 'therefore/from that')

• शत-गुण-अंशेन: by a hundredfold measure
• शत-गुण-अंशेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (measure: 'by a hundredfold part/degree'), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular)

• कलि-भार्या: Kali's wife
• कलि-भार्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (wife of Kali), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अलक्ष्मीः: Alakṣmī (misfortune)
• अलक्ष्मीः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus (called)
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• विख्याता: is renowned/known
• विख्याता: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ख्या (धातु) → विख्यात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• मन्थरा: Mantharā
• मन्थरा: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्थरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्मृता: is remembered/called
• स्मृता: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Misfortune (Alakṣmī) accompanies Kali as an amplifying power; obstruction and decline are portrayed as karmic-ethical consequences of adharma.

Vedantic Theme: Avidyā and tamas manifest as ‘Alakṣmī’—the experiential texture of bondage; prosperity (Lakṣmī) aligns with dharma and sattva.

Application: Reduce ‘Alakṣmī’ conditions by cultivating cleanliness, truth, generosity, and devotion; avoid habits that invite disorder and conflict.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12 (personifications associated with Kali and gradations of decline)

Characters & Entities

• Kali
• Alakshmi
• Manthara
• Lakshmi

FAQs

What is the importance of Alakshmi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Alakshmi as the inauspicious power closely tied to Kali, explaining how misfortune and obstruction spread as dharma declines.

How does this verse relate to the effects of Kali Yuga on human life?

By calling her Kali’s consort and identifying her as ‘Mantharā,’ the verse suggests that Kali Yuga amplifies delays, confusion, and adverse conditions that hinder righteous living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Recognize and reduce sources of ‘Alakshmi’—dishonesty, negligence, and harmful habits—and strengthen dharma through truthful conduct, discipline, charity, and devotion.