Shloka 50

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

श्रीरामसंस्मृतिं चैव संध्याकाले खगोत्तम / अच्युतानन्तगोविन्दाञ्छ्राद्धकाले च संस्मरेत्

Transliteration

śrīrāmasaṃsmṛtiṃ caiva saṃdhyākāle khagottama / acyutānantagovindāñchrāddhakāle ca saṃsmaret

Translation

يا أفضلَ الطير (غارودا)، في وقت السَّندْهيا (الشفق) فليتذكّر المرءُ شري راما؛ وفي وقت طقوس الشرادها فليتذكّر أيضًا أتشيوتا وأنانتا وغوفيندا.

Word by Word

• श्री-राम-संस्मृतिम्: remembrance of Śrī Rāma
• श्री-राम-संस्मृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + राम (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्मृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्रीरामस्य संस्मृतिः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• संध्या-काले: at twilight time
• संध्या-काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (संध्यायाः कालः)

• खग-उत्तम: O best of birds (Garuda)
• खग-उत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (उत्तमः खगः)

• अच्युत-अनन्त-गोविन्दान्: Acyuta, Ananta, and Govinda
• अच्युत-अनन्त-गोविन्दान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (अच्युतश्च अनन्तश्च गोविन्दश्च)

• श्राद्ध-काले: at the time of śrāddha rites
• श्राद्ध-काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्राद्धस्य कालः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) with सम्-उपसर्ग
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: श्राद्धकाले (during śrāddha time)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time-specific smaraṇa: remember Śrī Rāma at sandhyā; remember Acyuta, Ananta, Govinda during śrāddha—devotion as purifier of rites and mind.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the unchanging support (Acyuta), infinite ground (Ananta), and giver of fulfillment (Govinda); bhakti integrates nitya-karma and pitṛ-kārya toward inner purification.

Application: At dawn/dusk, do brief Rāma-japa; during śrāddha (or remembrance of ancestors), invoke Acyuta-Ananta-Govinda to keep the rite sattvic and centered on Vishnu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: ritual time-space (liminal twilight; ancestral rite setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa and Śrāddha-kalpa sections broadly emphasize Vishnu-smaraṇa as purifier of pitṛ rites (section-level)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Shri Rama
• Acyuta
• Ananta
• Govinda
• Shraddha

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Vishnu-names during sandhyā and śrāddha in Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes focused smaraṇa (remembrance) at two key ritual times—sandhyā and śrāddha—linking daily discipline and ancestral rites to devotion toward Viṣṇu (Rāma/Acyuta/Ananta/Govinda).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and śrāddha practice?

It emphasizes that śrāddha is not only an external offering but also a devotional act: remembering Viṣṇu’s names is presented as a proper inner accompaniment to the rite performed for the departed and ancestors.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

At sunrise/sunset (sandhyā) remember Śrī Rāma; and when performing or attending śrāddha, consciously recite/remember Acyuta, Ananta, and Govinda to keep the ritual grounded in sattvic devotion.