Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

गारुडात्पादतुल्यं च फलं चाहुर्मनीषिणः / पुराणं भागवतं शैवं नन्दिप्रोक्तं तथैव च

Transliteration

gāruḍātpādatulyaṃ ca phalaṃ cāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ / purāṇaṃ bhāgavataṃ śaivaṃ nandiproktaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

ويُعلن الحكماء أن ثمرةَ (الاستحقاق) الناشئة من «غارودا بورانا» تساوي رُبعَ (قدَمًا واحدة) من استحقاق «بهاگافاتا بورانا» و«شايفا بورانا»، وكذلك البورانا التي نطق بها ناندين.

Word by Word

• gāruḍāt: from/than the Gāruḍa (Purāṇa)
• gāruḍāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāruḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; source/standard of comparison (ablative of comparison)

• pāda-tulyam: equal to a quarter (pāda)
• pāda-tulyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective used predicatively

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

• phalam: fruit/result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

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

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• manīṣiṇaḥ: the wise (sages)
• manīṣiṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manīṣin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• purāṇam: the Purāṇa
• purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; appositional listing

• bhāgavatam: Bhāgavata
• bhāgavatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying purāṇam

• śaivam: Śaiva
• śaivam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying purāṇam

• nandi-proktam: spoken by Nandi
• nandi-proktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nandi (प्रातिपदिक) + prokta (प्रातिपदिक; √vac/√brū in past passive participle sense)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally; qualifying purāṇam

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa of Purāṇas yields graded merit; Bhāgavata and other sectarian Purāṇas are treated as higher benchmarks, with Garuḍa’s fruit measured as a fraction thereof.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as a purifier; gradation of sādhana efficacy (tāratamya) within smṛti literature.

Application: Use comparative teachings to prioritize devotional hearing/reading; integrate Garuḍa Purāṇa study as supportive, especially for dharma and post-death rites, while also engaging Bhāgavata for bhakti deepening.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.64 (Bhāgavata as श्रेष्ठ among Purāṇas)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Bhagavata Purana
• Shaiva Purana
• Nandin

FAQs

What is the importance of Purana-phala (phala-shruti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a phala-shruti, stating the spiritual ‘result’ of engaging with the Garuda Purana and situating its merit in relation to other major Puranas.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Directly it does not describe the soul’s journey; instead, it emphasizes the merit of studying the text that elsewhere teaches dharma, rites, and post-death teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as motivation for regular study/recitation with sincerity—approaching scripture as a discipline for ethical living and devotion rather than as mere ritual formality.