Shloka 7

Devanagari script

आभ्यर्च्य विष्णुं धर्मात्मा गोब्राह्मणहिते रतः / प्रजाः पालयितुं शक्तः पार्थिवो विजितेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

ābhyarcya viṣṇuṃ dharmātmā gobrāhmaṇahite rataḥ / prajāḥ pālayituṃ śaktaḥ pārthivo vijitendriyaḥ

Translation

বিধিপূৰ্বক বিষ্ণুক আৰাধনা কৰি, ধৰ্মাত্মা ৰজা—গো-ব্ৰাহ্মণৰ হিতত ৰত আৰু ইন্দ্ৰিয়জয়ী—প্ৰজাসকলক পালন কৰিবলৈ সক্ষম হয়।

Word by Word

• आभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• आभ्यर्च्य: Sambandha (Prior action/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + भ्यर्च्/अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• धर्मात्मा: a righteous-souled (man/king)
• धर्मात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (धर्मः आत्मा यस्य)

• गोब्राह्मणहिते: in the welfare of cows and Brahmins
• गोब्राह्मणहिते: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + ब्राह्मण + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गोब्राह्मणयोः हितम्)

• रतः: devoted/engaged
• रतः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धर्मात्मा-विशेषण

• प्रजाः: subjects/people
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• पालयितुम्: to protect/govern
• पालयितुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पाल् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थक

• शक्तः: able
• शक्तः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पार्थिवः/धर्मात्मा-विशेषण

• पार्थिवः: the king
• पार्थिवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विजितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered his senses
• विजितेन्द्रियः: Karta (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजित + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (विजितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra), contextually within dharma instruction

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion to Viṣṇu and self-restraint empower righteous governance; welfare of cows and brāhmaṇas sustains dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-prasāda and indriya-nigraha as supports for right action; bhakti harmonizes power with humility.

Application: Leaders cultivate inner discipline, ethical counsel, and reverence for learning and non-violence; protect vulnerable communities and institutions of education and ritual.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: royal court/temple context (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu-bhakti as purifier and stabilizer of conduct; Garuda Purana: praise of go-brāhmaṇa-hita as dharma-protection

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahmanas
• Cows
• King
• Subjects (Prajā)

FAQs

What is the importance of go-brāhmaṇa-hita (welfare of cows and brāhmaṇas) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse treats protection of cows and the well-being of brāhmaṇas as a hallmark of dharmic rule, indicating a king’s commitment to sustaining social-spiritual order and ethical governance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it presents the dharmic foundation—Viṣṇu worship and self-control—that purifies conduct and supports good karma, which the Garuḍa Purāṇa elsewhere links to favorable outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate self-restraint, align leadership (personal or civic) with dharma, and prioritize the protection and upliftment of vulnerable dependents—seen here through the traditional ideals of caring for cows and supporting ethical spiritual education.