Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 2

Tila–Darbha–Maṇḍala in Aūrdhvadaihika: Protection, Eligibility, and the Merit of Salt-Dāna

Devanagari script

कम्यग्विभेदरहितं श्रुतिस्मृतिसमुद्धृतम् / यन्न दृष्टं सुरैः सेन्द्रैर्योगिभिर्योगचिन्तकैः

Transliteration

kamyagvibhedarahitaṃ śrutismṛtisamuddhṛtam / yanna dṛṣṭaṃ suraiḥ sendrairyogibhiryogacintakaiḥ

Translation

此教法/智慧不为欲望所驱之诸般目的而分裂，乃从《吠陀》与《斯摩利提》（Smṛti）中提炼而出；此真理，连同因陀罗在内的诸天亦未曾得见，沉入瑜伽观想的瑜伽行者亦难以觉知。

Word by Word

• काम्यक: desirable; pertaining to wish-fulfilling (kāmya)
• काम्यक: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom./Acc. sg., adjective)

• विभेद-रहितम्: free from distinctions/differences
• विभेद-रहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभेद (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vibhedasya rahitam) (Neuter, Nom./Acc. sg.)

• श्रुति-स्मृति-समुद्धृतम्: extracted/derived from Śruti and Smṛti
• श्रुति-स्मृति-समुद्धृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मृति (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-उद्-√हृ (धातु) → समुद्धृत (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (श्रुतिस्मृतिभ्यां समुद्धृतम्) (Neuter, Nom./Acc. sg.)

• यत्: which/that (thing)
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम (Neuter, Nom./Acc. sg., relative pronoun)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• दृष्टम्: seen
• दृष्टम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) प्रयोगः—कर्मणि/भावे (seen)

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental pl.)

• स-इन्द्रैः: together with Indra
• स-इन्द्रैः: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभावः (सह इन्द्रैः) ‘with Indra’ (Masculine, Instr. pl.)

• योगिभिः: by yogins
• योगिभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental pl.)

• योग-चिन्तकैः: by contemplators/thinkers of yoga
• योग-चिन्तकैः: Karana (Instrument/Agent in passive/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (योगस्य चिन्तकाः) (Masculine, Instr. pl.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A highest teaching, extracted from śruti and smṛti, transcends kāmya-bheda (desire-driven divisions) and is not grasped by devas or even yogic contemplatives.

Vedantic Theme: Paravidyā beyond devatā-jñāna; nirviśeṣa/atiindriya tattva approached through śāstra-pramāṇa and vairāgya.

Application: Shift from desire-motivated religiosity to śāstra-guided inquiry; cultivate dispassion and seek a qualified teacher for the ‘parama’ teaching.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.29.3 (guhyatama-upadeśa to a bhakta)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Devas
• Yogis

FAQs

What is the importance of Shruti and Smriti in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse asserts that the teaching being presented is not speculative; it is distilled from authoritative Vedic revelation (Śruti) and traditional dharma literature (Smṛti), giving it doctrinal weight for afterlife and dharma discussions.

How does this verse explain the limits of gods and yogis in knowing after-death truths?

It states that even devas (including Indra) and contemplative yogins may not directly perceive this specific, refined truth—implying that post-death realities and dharma principles require scriptural transmission, not only power or meditation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize dharma-based study and conduct over purely wish-driven goals (kāmya aims), and rely on well-grounded scriptural guidance when performing death rites or reflecting on karma and the soul’s journey.