Shloka 48

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

अनर्घरत्नपूजाञ्च कुर्यात्स्वाध्यायमेव च / तमेवोद्दिश्य गोविन्दं ध्यायन्नित्यमतन्द्रितः

Transliteration

anargharatnapūjāñca kuryātsvādhyāyameva ca / tamevoddiśya govindaṃ dhyāyannityamatandritaḥ

Translation

ينبغي أن تُقام العبادة بتقديم الجواهر النفيسة، وأن يُلازَم السڤادهيايا (svādhyāya: الدراسة الذاتية للنصوص). وبقصدٍ لا يتوجّه إلا إلى گوڤيندا (Govinda)، فليتأمّل فيه دائمًا بلا غفلة.

Word by Word

• anargha-ratna-pūjām: worship of priceless gems (costly offerings)
• anargha-ratna-pūjām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anargha (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (anargha-ratnānāṃ pūjā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• svādhyāyam: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• svādhyāyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic: indeed/only)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (indeed/only)

• uddiśya: having directed (towards)
• uddiśya: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√diś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund): having aimed at/with reference to

• govindam: Govinda
• govindam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhyāyan: meditating
• dhyāyan: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle): पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• atandritaḥ: unwearied/untiring
• atandritaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-tandrita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेध (not lazy); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Combine ratna-pūjā (offering precious gems) with svādhyāya, directing all intention to Govinda; constant, non-negligent meditation is praised.

Vedantic Theme: Eka-niṣṭhā (one-pointedness) and apramāda; external offerings as supports for inner devotion; śāstra-study aligned with upāsanā.

Application: Study sacred texts daily and translate learning into steady meditation; if offering gems is impractical, offer the best available (flowers, lamp, sincerity) while keeping the intention solely on Govinda.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on Viṣṇu-pūjā and svādhyāya as purifying and liberating disciplines; Garuda Purana: apramāda in sādhanā; one-pointed devotion

Characters & Entities

• Govinda

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse pairs svādhyāya with worship, indicating that scriptural recitation/self-study is itself a devotional discipline when dedicated to Govinda.

How does this verse define proper devotion to Govinda?

It emphasizes single-pointed intention—performing acts “for Him alone”—and continuous meditation without laziness or distraction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer your daily worship (simple or elaborate) and a short period of sacred reading/chanting, then consciously dedicate both to Govinda and maintain regular remembrance through the day.