Shloka 89

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

Devanagari script

प्रतिपाद्या मुख्यतया नम्या एव समीरिताः / अवान्तराश्च वाय्वाद्या न नम्यास्तेन ते स्मृताः

Transliteration

pratipādyā mukhyatayā namyā eva samīritāḥ / avāntarāśca vāyvādyā na namyāstena te smṛtāḥ

Translation

الذين يُراد بيانهم هنا قد ذُكِروا على أنهم، في المقام الأول، جديرون بالتحية الخاشعة والسجود. أمّا التابعون—ابتداءً بڤايو وغيرِه—فلا يُسلَّم عليهم بالسجود في هذا السياق؛ ولذلك يُذكَرون بأنهم ليسوا موضعَ الانحناء (هنا).

Word by Word

• प्रतिपाद्याः: to be taught/expounded
• प्रतिपाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिपाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• मुख्यतया: principally
• मुख्यतया: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुख्यतया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तल्-प्रत्ययान्त भाववाचक अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (instrumental adverb): ‘मुख्यतया’ = chiefly/principally

• नम्याः: venerable
• नम्याः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणबोधक अव्यय (emphatic particle: only/indeed)

• समीरिताः: are declared
• समीरिताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईर् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘सम्+ईर्’ = proclaimed

• अवान्तराः: subsidiary/secondary
• अवान्तराः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवान्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (and)

• वाय्वाद्याः: Vāyu and others
• वाय्वाद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—वायु + आदि

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधबोधक अव्यय (not)

• नम्याः: venerable
• नम्याः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• तेन: therefore/by that (reason)
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-प्रयोगः (therefore/by that reason)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्मृताः: are considered/remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Primary namya (worthy of salutation) are specified; subsidiary beings like Vāyu etc. are not to be saluted in this context—maintaining focus and hierarchy.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā-krama (ordered worship) and īśvara-paratva (supremacy of the Lord) safeguarded by disciplined practice.

Application: Keep devotional practice focused: follow prescribed hierarchy; avoid indiscriminate ritual acts that dilute intended theological aim.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.85-88 (identity, sovereignty, limbs/instruments, and non-equality)

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual hierarchy (who is to be saluted) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that the text defines a primary set of beings worthy of salutation in the given teaching context, and it cautions against mixing in secondary figures, preserving doctrinal and ritual order.

Does this verse deny respect to Vāyu and other devas?

No. It indicates that, within this specific instructional or ritual sequence, Vāyu and similar subordinate deities are not the intended recipients of the primary salutation; it is a contextual prioritization, not a denial of their divinity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing prayers, study, or rites, follow a clear order of reverence—keep the main focus on the principal object of worship or instruction, and avoid diluting practice by adding unrelated salutations.