Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 10

Śrīnivāsa at Svāmipuṣkariṇī: Darśana, Stotra, the Secret Veṅkaṭeśa Mantra, and the Meaning of “Vyaṅkaṭeśa”

Devanagari script

मां पाहि नित्यं ह्यरविन्दनेत्र प्रसन्नदृष्ट्या करुणासुधार्द्र / गोविन्द गोविन्द सुदुः खितां मां ज्ञानादिदानेन हि पाहि नित्यम्

Transliteration

māṃ pāhi nityaṃ hyaravindanetra prasannadṛṣṭyā karuṇāsudhārdra / govinda govinda suduḥ khitāṃ māṃ jñānādidānena hi pāhi nityam

Translation

احفظني دائمًا، يا ذا العينين كاللوتس؛ وانظر إليّ بنظرةٍ راضيةٍ ساكنةٍ مبلولةٍ برحيقِ الرحمة. يا جوفيندا، يا جوفيندا—احفظني على الدوام، وأنا شديدةُ الكرب، بمنحي عطايا كالمعرفة الحقّة وسواها.

Word by Word

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative)

• पाहि: protect
• पाहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• अरविन्दनेत्र: O lotus-eyed one
• अरविन्दनेत्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरविन्द + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; कर्मधारय-समास (lotus-like eyes)

• प्रसन्नदृष्ट्या: with a gracious (pleased) gaze
• प्रसन्नदृष्ट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसन्न + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग; कर्मधारय-समास

• करुणासुधार्द्र: O one moist with compassion-nectar
• करुणासुधार्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुणा + सुधा + आर्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समास (moistened with nectar of compassion)

• गोविन्द: O Govinda
• गोविन्द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• गोविन्द: O Govinda
• गोविन्द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (पुनरुक्ति)

• सुदुःखिताम्: very afflicted
• सुदुःखिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुःखित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative); विशेषण (qualifying माम्)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative)

• ज्ञानादिदानेन: by the gift of knowledge and the like
• ज्ञानादिदानेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + आदि + दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुष-समास (knowledge etc. as gift)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• पाहि: protect
• पाहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant addressing Lord Vishnu (Govinda); presented within the Garuda Purana’s devotional-teaching context (Vishnu–Garuda dialogue frame).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine grace grants jñāna (and allied gifts) that alleviates duḥkha; compassion (karuṇā) as salvific power.

Vedantic Theme: Jñāna as liberating insight supported by īśvara-anugraha; movement from duḥkha to prasāda (clarity/peace).

Application: Daily prayer/japa: repeat ‘Govinda’ with the intention of inner clarity; pair with study (svādhyāya) and ethical living to receive ‘jñānādi-dāna’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.25.9 (Mukunda as giver of liberation; prayer context)

Characters & Entities

• Govinda (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of praying to Govinda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse models surrender (śaraṇāgati): the afflicted soul seeks Vishnu’s compassionate protection and asks specifically for liberating aids like true knowledge, not merely worldly relief.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to inner transformation as the rescue: divine grace expressed as jñāna (right understanding) and allied virtues becomes the means by which suffering and fear are overcome on the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a daily prayer in distress, and pair it with cultivation of jñāna—study, reflection, and ethical living—so devotion and discernment together reduce sorrow and strengthen dharma.