Shloka 5

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

गृणन्तः परमं ब्रह्म जगच्चक्षुर्महौजसः / सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञास्तेपुर्नैमिष कानने

Transliteration

gṛṇantaḥ paramaṃ brahma jagaccakṣurmahaujasaḥ / sarvaśāstrārthatattvajñāstepurnaimiṣa kānane

Translation

وهم يُنشدون تسبيح البرهمن الأسمى—عينَ الكون، الجبّارَ المتلألئ—؛ أولئك الحكماء العارفون بحقيقة معاني جميع الشاسترا أقاموا التَّبَس (الزهد والرياضة) في غابة نايميṣا.

Word by Word

• गृणन्तः: praising
• गृणन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गॄ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — 'praising'

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying ब्रह्म

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular

• जगत्-चक्षुः: the eye of the world
• जगत्-चक्षुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगच्चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक; जगत् + चक्षुस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; accusative singular in apposition to ब्रह्म

• महा-ओजसः: of great splendor
• महा-ओजसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महौजस् (प्रातिपदिक; महा + ओजस्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; adjective qualifying जगच्चक्षुः/ब्रह्म

• सर्व-शास्त्र-अर्थ-तत्त्व-ज्ञाः: knowers of śāstra-meanings and truth
• सर्व-शास्त्र-अर्थ-तत्त्व-ज्ञाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + शास्त्र + अर्थ + तत्त्व + ज्ञ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; 'knowers of the reality of the meaning of all śāstras'

• तेपुः: they performed austerities
• तेपुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; parasmaipada

• नैमिष: of Naimiṣa
• नैमिष: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive singular used with कानने — 'of Naimiṣa'

• कानने: in the forest
• कानने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; locative singular

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) describing the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya (frame narrative)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brahman is praised as the luminous 'eye' of the universe; true śāstra-artha-jñāna culminates in tapas and contemplation.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Īśvara as the inner seer (sākṣin) and source of cosmic order; śruti-smṛti-sāra as a means to viveka and steadiness.

Application: Study with discernment (artha-tattva), combine learning with disciplined practice (tapas, meditation), and seek environments that support contemplation (retreat/quiet).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest/āraṇya (tīrtha-kṣetra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana opening frames often mirror Purāṇic 'Naimiṣa assembly' conventions: sages, praise, and inquiry into dharma/mokṣa

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Naimiṣāraṇya sages

FAQs

What is the importance of Naimiṣāraṇya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Naimiṣāraṇya as the sanctified setting where realized sages, grounded in the essence of all śāstras, undertake tapas and invoke the Supreme Brahman—establishing the text’s sacred and authoritative frame.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on life, death, and dharma?

By foregrounding Brahman as the universe’s witness and the sages as knowers of śāstra-tattva, it signals that later teachings—including dharma, rites, and post-death topics—are to be understood within a higher spiritual and scriptural framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach ritual and ethical practice with the aim of inner truth: combine study of scripture with disciplined practice (tapas) and remembrance of the Supreme Witness in daily decisions.