Shloka 44

Vīrya, Māyā/Prakṛti, Śrī’s Inseparability, Paramāṇu, and Hari’s Infinitude

Devanagari script

तमेवाहुश्चरमांशं विशेषं ये चैवमाहुर्मुनयस्तेन चान्ये / ये काणादा गौतमाद्याः खगेन्द्र निरंशकं परमाणुं वदन्ति

Transliteration

tamevāhuścaramāṃśaṃ viśeṣaṃ ye caivamāhurmunayastena cānye / ye kāṇādā gautamādyāḥ khagendra niraṃśakaṃ paramāṇuṃ vadanti

Translation

有些圣贤宣说：唯有祂才是最终、至上的殊胜本原；而另一些人，噢迦坚陀罗（迦楼罗），如迦那陀、瞿昙等，则说不可分的「paramāṇu」（极微原子）才是究竟实在。

Word by Word

• तम्: him/that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• आहुः: say/call
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• चरमांशम्: the final part
• चरमांशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरमांश (प्रातिपदिक; चरम+अंश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विशेषम्: a distinct entity
• विशेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (apposition to चरमांशम्)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (thus)

• आहुः: say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तेन: thereby/with that
• तेन: Hetu/Instrument (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• काणादाः: Kaṇādas (followers of Kaṇāda)
• काणादाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काणाद (प्रातिपदिक; proper name)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• गौतमाद्याः: Gautama and others
• गौतमाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतमाद्य (प्रातिपदिक; गौतम+आद्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• खगेन्द्र: O lord of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खगेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक; खग+इन्द्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• निरंशकम्: partless
• निरंशकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरंशक (प्रातिपदिक; निर्+अंशक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (परमाणुम्)

• परमाणुम्: the ultimate atom
• परमाणुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमाणु (प्रातिपदिक; परम+अणु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वदन्ति: declare
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Competing ontologies: personal ultimate (He alone as final principle) versus atomism (paramāṇu) as ultimate reality.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Īśvara as the final ground contrasted with non-theistic or reductionist categories; critique-by-context of ultimate ‘atom’ as sufficient cause.

Application: Study darśanas with discrimination; do not mistake a conceptual ‘ultimate’ (like paramāṇu) for the supreme ground of consciousness and divinity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.3.45-48 (continuation: critique of ‘partless’ claim; Vishnu as aṇor aṇīyān, mahato mahīyān; time/space infinitude)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa (Khagendra)
• Kaṇāda
• Gautama
• Munis (sages)

FAQs

What is the importance of 'paramāṇu' (atom) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse records a philosophical view attributed to Kaṇāda and Gautama: that the ultimate basis of the world can be described as an indivisible paramāṇu, contrasting with other sages who identify the ultimate as the Supreme Himself.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife teachings of the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it frames the text’s broader teaching style: the Garuda Purana includes multiple darśanas (philosophical systems) while guiding the listener toward an ultimate principle beyond mere material constituents—supporting a spiritual, not purely physical, understanding of existence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder to study differing viewpoints with discernment: examine whether your worldview reduces life to material parts alone or recognizes a higher conscious principle, and let that inform ethical living and spiritual practice.