Shloka 13

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

वैशम्पायनमङ्गन्तु पुराणं सूतमेव च / अष्टादशपुराणानि यैर् वेद्यो हरिरेव हि

Transliteration

vaiśampāyanamaṅgantu purāṇaṃ sūtameva ca / aṣṭādaśapurāṇāni yair vedyo harireva hi

Translation

ليُبَجَّل فايشَمبايانا (Vaiśampāyana) وكذلك سوتا (Sūta) بوصفهما ناقلَي تقليد البورانا؛ إذ عبر البورانات الثماني عشرة لا يُعرَف حقًّا إلا هاري (Hari)، أي فيشنو (Viṣṇu) وحده.

Word by Word

• वैशम्पायनम्: Vaiśampāyana
• वैशम्पायनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैशम्पायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• अङ्ग: O (dear)
• अङ्ग: Discourse (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अङ्ग (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संबोधन/उद्बोधनार्थक (vocative particle)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• पुराणम्: the Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूतम्: Sūta
• सूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: only / indeed
• एव: Discourse (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic/only)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अष्टादशपुराणानि: the eighteen Purāṇas
• अष्टादशपुराणानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टादश + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (अष्टादशानि पुराणानि)

• यैः: by which
• यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• वेद्यः: is to be known
• वेद्यः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √विद् (धातु) + यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/नीयतार्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: alone / indeed
• एव: Discourse (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• हि: for / indeed
• हि: Discourse (हेतु/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक (for/indeed)

Speaker

Suta (traditional narrator) / Purana narrator invoking the lineage of transmission

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purāṇas, though many, are ultimately Hari-centric; true knowledge culminates in Viṣṇu (Hari) as the knowable goal.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the final purport (tātparya) of scripture; unity of śāstra-artha despite plurality of texts.

Application: Engage in Purāṇa-śravaṇa with a Hari-centered intention; read diverse texts seeking the common thread of devotion and right understanding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.223.14 (definition of Purāṇa); Garuda Purana 1.223.15-16 (list of 18 Purāṇas)

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Sūta
• Hari (Viṣṇu)
• Aṣṭādaśa Purāṇas

FAQs

What is the importance of the eighteen Purāṇas in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames the eighteen Purāṇas as a unified means of spiritual knowledge, emphasizing that their central purpose is to reveal Hari (Viṣṇu).

How does this verse relate to the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s teachings on dharma and afterlife rites?

By establishing Viṣṇu as the ultimate object of knowledge, it sets a devotional and scriptural foundation upon which later teachings—including dharma, expiations, and death-ritual guidance—are understood.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach Purāṇic teachings with a clear aim: cultivate remembrance of Viṣṇu and align practice (ethics, ritual, and study) with that highest spiritual focus.