Shloka 36

Mahālakṣmī’s Forms, Brahmā’s Fourfold Origin, Vāyu’s Names and Soteriology, and Bhāratī’s Manifestations

Devanagari script

ऋष्यादीनां च मध्येपि काम्येन हरिपूजनम् / अतो न ऋजवो ज्ञेया मनुष्याणां च का कथा

Transliteration

ṛṣyādīnāṃ ca madhyepi kāmyena haripūjanam / ato na ṛjavo jñeyā manuṣyāṇāṃ ca kā kathā

Translation

حتى بين الرِّشيّين والحكماء، قد تُؤدَّى عبادة هاري (Hari) أحيانًا بدافع الرغبة في المكاسب الشخصية. لذلك لا ينبغي عَدُّهم مستقيمين على الإطلاق؛ فماذا يُقال إذن عن عامة الناس؟

Word by Word

• ऋषि-आदीनाम्: of sages and others
• ऋषि-आदीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: ऋषयः आदयः येषाम् (बहुवचन-समूहवाचक; सामान्यतः तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक (conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मध्ये: in the midst/among
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक (inclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), अपि-कार (even/also)

• काम्येन: with desire-motivated (intent)
• काम्येन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective) ‘काम्य’ (desire-motivated), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग (contextual), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हरि-पूजनम्: worship of Hari
• हरि-पूजनम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: हरेः पूजनम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular; here subject)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: हेतु (Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेत्वर्थक अव्यय (therefore)

• न: not
• न: निषेधक (negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• ऋजवः: straightforward; honest
• ऋजवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऋजु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण (adjective used substantively), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known/considered
• ज्ञेयाः: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/future passive participle: ‘to be known’), पुल्लिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन

• मनुष्याणाम्: of humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• का: what?
• का: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा एकवचन

• कथा: talk/mention (what to say)
• कथा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kāmya-bhakti (desire-driven worship) can exist even among ṛṣis; external piety does not guarantee inner straightforwardness (ārjava).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi vs. kāma; motive (saṅkalpa) conditions spiritual fruit and clarity.

Application: Examine motives in worship; shift from transactional prayer to surrender and self-purification; avoid judging holiness by externals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.37-40 (kāmya-saparayā as obstacle; guru-jñāna; distorted knowledge)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Rishis

FAQs

What is the importance of intention (kāmya vs. niṣkāma) in Garuda Purana teachings?

This verse highlights that even revered practitioners may worship Hari with personal desires, implying that inner motive matters greatly and that spiritual sincerity is rare.

How does this verse relate to karma and spiritual progress?

By pointing out desire-driven worship, it suggests that actions—even religious ones—can bind through expectation of results, whereas purer intention supports clearer dharmic progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform worship, charity, and vows with reduced bargaining for outcomes; aim for honesty about motives and gradually cultivate more selfless devotion.