Shloka 77

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

शेषादेश्च शतानन्दः सरस्वत्याः खगोत्तम / एकानन्दस्तु विज्ञेयो भारत्या विनतासुत

Transliteration

śeṣādeśca śatānandaḥ sarasvatyāḥ khagottama / ekānandastu vijñeyo bhāratyā vinatāsuta

Translation

噢，群鸟之最：对舍沙（Śeṣa）等而言，他被称为“百喜（Śatānanda）”；而对萨拉斯瓦蒂（Sarasvatī）而言，噢毗那塔之子，应当理解为“一喜（Ekānanda）”。如是，这些喜乐（Ānanda）的名相便被安立。

Word by Word

• śeṣāt: from Śeṣa
• śeṣāt: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• śatānandaḥ: Śatānanda
• śatānandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; śata + ānanda (तत्पुरुष)

• sarasvatyāḥ: of Sarasvatī
• sarasvatyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• khagottama: O best of birds
• khagottama: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khagottama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; compound: khaga + uttama (best among birds) कर्मधारय

• ekānandaḥ: Ekānanda
• ekānandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānanda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; eka + ānanda (तत्पुरुष)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात)

• vijñeyaḥ: is to be known
• vijñeyaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (ज्ञा धातु) + vi- + anīya (अनीयर्)
• Form: Kridanta gerundive (अनीयर्-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘to be known’

• bhāratyā: by Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• bhāratyā: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive/gerundive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāratī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• vinatāsuta: O son of Vinatā (Garuḍa)
• vinatāsuta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinatā-suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; compound: vinatā + suta (son of Vinatā) तत्पुरुष

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Relativity of ‘ānanda’ designations across cosmic beings; names like śatānanda/ekānanda function as comparative measures.

Vedantic Theme: Conditioned bliss varies by upādhi (status/role), implying the need to seek the non-relative source of bliss.

Application: Avoid absolutizing spiritual experiences; interpret joys as graded and context-bound, and continue inquiry toward the highest, non-relative ānanda.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.18.76 (preceding definition of śatānanda/ekānanda); Garuda Purana 3.18.78 (concluding ‘nirṇaya’ statement)

Characters & Entities

• Shesha
• Sarasvati
• Bharati
• Garuda (Vinatāsuta)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śatānanda and Ekānanda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves specific epithets of the divine as ‘bliss’ (ānanda), mapping distinct devotional names—Śatānanda and Ekānanda—to revered beings like Śeṣa and Sarasvatī/Bhāratī.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing divine Ānanda as the ultimate reality, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that liberation is attained through right knowledge, devotion, and remembrance of the Lord’s names.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these names in japa or stotra-recitation to cultivate steadiness and a devotional focus on undivided bliss (Ekānanda) and abundant divine joy (Śatānanda).