Shloka 143

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

भजस्व मूढ परदैवतं च नारायणं तारकं सर्वदुः खात् / सुक्षुद्रदेवेषु मतिं च मा कुरु न च शृणु त्वं फल्गुवाक्यं तथैव

Transliteration

bhajasva mūḍha paradaivataṃ ca nārāyaṇaṃ tārakaṃ sarvaduḥ khāt / sukṣudradeveṣu matiṃ ca mā kuru na ca śṛṇu tvaṃ phalguvākyaṃ tathaiva

Translation

হে মূঢ়, পৰম দেৱতা নাৰায়ণক ভজ; তেওঁ তাৰক, সকলো দুখৰ পৰা উদ্ধাৰক। ক্ষুদ্ৰ দেৱতাত মন নিদিবা, আৰু নিষ্ফল ফাঁপা বাক্য নুশুনিবা।

Word by Word

• भजस्व: worship/seek refuge in
• भजस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मूढ: O fool/deluded one
• मूढ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन

• परदैवतम्: the supreme deity
• परदैवतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परं दैवतं)

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

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तारकम्: the deliverer/savior
• तारकम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (नारायणस्य)

• सर्वदुःखात्: from all sorrow
• सर्वदुःखात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वं दुःखम्)

• सुक्षुद्रदेवेषु: in very petty deities
• सुक्षुद्रदेवेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (सुक्षुद्राः देवाः)

• मतिम्: thought/attention
• मतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle, used with imperative)

• कुरु: do/make
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

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

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• फल्गुवाक्यम्: empty/insignificant talk
• फल्गुवाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल्गु (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (फल्गुं वाक्यम्)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta Kanda discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa alone is tāraka (the one who carries across) and sarva-duḥkha-hara; avoid fixation on minor deities and empty counsel.

Vedantic Theme: Ekatva of the supreme refuge (parameśvara); bhakti as the direct means of deliverance within Īśvara’s grace.

Application: Adopt a single-pointed devotional practice: nāma-japa, stotra, pūjā; reduce distraction from conflicting ‘quick’ spiritual claims and ungrounded advice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring ‘Nārāyaṇa is tāraka’ motif in mokṣa-oriented passages; immediate continuation in 3.28.144–145 on rejecting hypocrisy and adopting Viṣṇu-mudrā

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion to Narayana in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Nārāyaṇa as the tāraka—one who delivers beings from all sorrow—implying that sincere devotion is a direct spiritual refuge beyond fear, suffering, and post-death anxiety.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By calling Nārāyaṇa the deliverer from all दुःख (sorrow), the verse points to liberation-oriented devotion as the safest course for the jīva, rather than dependence on minor deities or misleading assurances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize steady devotion, ethical living, and discernment—avoid being swayed by superficial promises or hollow spiritual talk, and keep one’s mind anchored in the highest ideal (Nārāyaṇa).