Shloka 22

Ajāna Lineages, Divine Classes, Ṛṣi Catalogues, and the Merit of Śravaṇa-Smaraṇa

Devanagari script

तेभ्यः शतगुणाज्ञेया मानुषेषूत्तमा गणाः / एवं प्रासंगिकानुक्त्वा प्रकृतं ह्यनुसराम्यहम् / एवं ब्रह्मादयो देवा लक्ष्म्याद्या अपि सर्वशः

Transliteration

tebhyaḥ śataguṇājñeyā mānuṣeṣūttamā gaṇāḥ / evaṃ prāsaṃgikānuktvā prakṛtaṃ hyanusarāmyaham / evaṃ brahmādayo devā lakṣmyādyā api sarvaśaḥ

Translation

与他们相比，人间诸众之中最上者亦当知为胜出百倍。既已随文略说旁及之事，我今当循入正题。如是当知：诸天自梵天（Brahmā）始，诸神女亦自吉祥天女（Lakṣmī）始，一切皆然。

Word by Word

• तेभ्यः: from them/than them
• तेभ्यः: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• शतगुणाः: hundredfold (in qualities)
• शतगुणाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (संख्या-निर्देशः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• ज्ञेयाः: to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयाः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicative adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृत्य (gerundive/future passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘ज्ञेय’ = ‘to be known/should be known’

• मानुषेषु: among humans
• मानुषेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location-context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन

• उत्तमाः: best, excellent
• उत्तमाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• गणाः: groups, classes
• गणाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• प्रासंगिकान्: incidental (topics)
• प्रासंगिकान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रासंगिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (used substantively: ‘incidental matters’)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having said’

• प्रकृतम्: the main subject
• प्रकृतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; ‘प्रकृत’ = मुख्यविषयः (main topic)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-सूचक (emphasis/indeed)

• अनुसरामि: I proceed/follow (it)
• अनुसरामि: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + सृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• ब्रह्मादयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादयः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आदि-समास: ‘Brahmā and others’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• लक्ष्म्याद्याः: Lakṣmī and others
• लक्ष्म्याद्याः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (आदि-समास: ‘Lakṣmī and others’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Additive particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (also/even)

• सर्वशः: in every way, entirely
• सर्वशः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/व्याप्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: in every way/entirely)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic understanding (saṅgraha) of graded beings and divine categories; distinguishing incidental from principal teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) between primary and ancillary topics; ordered knowledge as a support for right understanding.

Application: In study and practice, separate essentials from digressions; maintain focus while retaining a coherent map of concepts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: narrative signposts ‘now I proceed to the main subject’ occur in didactic sections (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Lakshmi

FAQs

What is the importance of spiritual hierarchy in the Garuda Purana?

This verse signals a graded understanding of beings—humans, and higher divine orders—so the listener can place dharma, merit, and spiritual attainment within an ordered cosmology.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing classes of beings and divine orders, it frames the broader teaching context in which the soul’s progress is measured by virtue, knowledge, and proximity to higher states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat the teaching as a reminder to cultivate “uttamatā” (excellence) through dharma and disciplined living, and to keep focus on the main spiritual aim rather than getting lost in side-details.