Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

हिताहितोपदेष्टृत्वाद्भक्तानां हृदये स्थितः / ततश्च गुरुसंज्ञां चाप्यवाप स च मारुतः

Transliteration

hitāhitopadeṣṭṛtvādbhaktānāṃ hṛdaye sthitaḥ / tataśca gurusaṃjñāṃ cāpyavāpa sa ca mārutaḥ

Translation

ولأنه يعلّم العابدين ما هو نافع وما هو ضارّ، فإنه يقيم في قلوبهم؛ ولذلك نال ماروتا (فايُو) أيضًا لقب «غورو» (المرشد الروحي).

Word by Word

• hita-ahita-upadeṣṭṛtvāt: because of (his) being an instructor of good and bad
• hita-ahita-upadeṣṭṛtvāt: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक) + ahita (प्रातिपदिक) + upadeṣṭṛtva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन); -त्वात् = 'because of/from the state of being an instructor of good and bad'

• bhaktānām: of devotees
• bhaktānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hṛdaye: in the heart
• hṛdaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• sthitaḥ: situated; abiding
• sthitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: thereupon; therefore
• tataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb: 'thereupon/therefore'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction (समुच्चय)

• guru-saṃjñām: the designation 'guru'
• guru-saṃjñām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (अपि)

• avāpa: attained; obtained
• avāpa: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava+āp (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conjunction

• mārutaḥ: Māruta (Vāyu)
• mārutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māruta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vāyu/Maruta, abiding in devotees’ hearts, teaches hita and ahita; thus he is called ‘Guru’.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-like guidance: inner discernment (viveka) as grace; dharma as the practical face of spiritual knowledge.

Application: Listen to conscience refined by sādhana; cultivate discrimination of beneficial/harmful actions; treat guidance as sacred—verify by śāstra and sat-guru while honoring inner clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.16.47 (Vāyu as jñāna); Garuda Purana 3.16.49 (heart-dwelling in yogins; meditation)

Characters & Entities

• Maruta
• Vayu
• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of teaching ‘hita’ and ‘ahita’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents true guidance as discernment—teaching devotees what leads to spiritual welfare (hita) and what leads to harm (ahita), which is why such a guide is honored as a guru.

How does this verse explain the role of the guru in a devotee’s life?

It frames the guru-principle as an indwelling presence in the heart of devotees—guidance that corrects choices and aligns one with dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a daily filter: choose actions that are hita (ethical, purifying, duty-aligned) and avoid ahita (harmful, deceptive, degrading), and seek teachers who cultivate this clarity.