Shloka 21

Dāna-dharma: Threefold Classification, Right Recipients, Auspicious Timing, and Fruits of Gifts

Devanagari script

मुमुक्षुः सर्वसंसारात्प्रयत्नेनार्चयेद्धरिम् / अकामः सर्वकामो वा पूजयेत्तु गदाधरम्

Transliteration

mumukṣuḥ sarvasaṃsārātprayatnenārcayeddharim / akāmaḥ sarvakāmo vā pūjayettu gadādharam

Translation

مَن يتوق إلى الموكشا، أي التحرّر من دورة السَّمْسارا كلّها، فليجتهد في عبادة هَري. سواء كان بلا رغبة أو ممتلئ الرغبات، فليعبد غَدادهارا (فيشنو، حامل الهراوة).

Word by Word

• मुमुक्षुः: one who seeks liberation
• मुमुक्षुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुमुक्षु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इच्छार्थक-उणादि/कृदन्त (desiderative sense: one wishing to be liberated)

• सर्व-संसारात्: from the entire cycle of worldly existence
• सर्व-संसारात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वः संसारः)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अकामः: one without desire
• अकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (desireless)

• सर्व-कामः: one desiring all (objects) / one with all desires
• सर्व-कामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे कामाः यस्य/सर्वकामः)

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive: or)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ (indeed)

• गदा-धरम्: Gadādhara (Viṣṇu, bearer of the mace)
• गदा-धरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गदां धरति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari-worship is the direct means for liberation; Vishnu is to be worshipped by the desireless and the desire-filled alike.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-bhakti as purifier and liberator; convergence of sakama and nishkama into devotion to the Supreme (parama-purusha).

Application: Maintain steady Vishnu-upasana (nama, archana, smarana); even worldly desires can be redirected toward the Lord, gradually ripening into mumukshutva.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51.20 (sakama devata-upasana); Garuda Purana 1.51.22-24 (dana as dharmic karma supporting purification)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Gadadhara (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Hari in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Hari-worship as a direct means for one seeking release from saṃsāra, emphasizing sincere effort (prayatna) as the essential attitude.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than detailing post-death travel, it points to the root solution—devotion to Vishnu—as the way to transcend repeated birth and death (saṃsāra).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular Vishnu-pūjā (arcana), whether you seek worldly aims or inner freedom, and gradually align desires toward liberation through disciplined devotion.