Shloka 41

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

तन्त्रोक्तपूजा दुर्लभा वै मुरारेर्नामग्रहो दुर्लभश्चव विष्णोः / सुवैष्णवानां पुजनं दुर्लभं हि सद्वैष्णवानां भाषणं दुर्लभं च

Transliteration

tantroktapūjā durlabhā vai murārernāmagraho durlabhaścava viṣṇoḥ / suvaiṣṇavānāṃ pujanaṃ durlabhaṃ hi sadvaiṣṇavānāṃ bhāṣaṇaṃ durlabhaṃ ca

Translation

তন্ত্রোক্ত মুরারির পূজা বিরল, বিষ্ণুনাম গ্রহণও বিরল। সুবৈষ্ণবদের পূজন দুর্লভ, আর সদ্বৈষ্ণবদের সঙ্গে কথোপকথনও দুর্লভ।

Word by Word

• tantra-ukta-pūjā: Tantra-prescribed worship
• tantra-ukta-pūjā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tantra + ukta (√vac, क्त) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'worship prescribed in the Tantras'

• durlabhā: rare
• durlabhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with pūjā

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• murāreḥ: of Murāri
• murāreḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: murāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• nāma-grahaḥ: uttering the name
• nāma-grahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman + graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'taking/uttering the name'

• durlabhaḥ: rare
• durlabhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with nāma-grahaḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण अव्यय)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• su-vaiṣṇavānām: of excellent Vaiṣṇavas
• su-vaiṣṇavānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; su-vaiṣṇava = 'excellent Vaiṣṇavas'

• pūjanam: worship/honoring
• pūjanam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjana (प्रातिपदिक; √pūj)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with pūjanam

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (खलु/हेतु-अर्थे अव्यय)

• sat-vaiṣṇavānām: of true Vaiṣṇavas
• sat-vaiṣṇavānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat + vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; 'of true Vaiṣṇavas'

• bhāṣaṇam: speaking/conversation
• bhāṣaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √bhāṣ)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• durlabham: rare
• durlabham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with bhāṣaṇam

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rarity of (1) tantra-prescribed worship of Murāri, (2) even uttering Viṣṇu’s name, (3) honoring true Vaiṣṇavas, and (4) meaningful conversation with them.

Vedantic Theme: nāma as accessible yet neglected means; saints as embodiments of dharma and conduits of grace; outer ritual and inner remembrance as complementary.

Application: Adopt daily nāma-japa; keep a simple, consistent pūjā; practice vaiṣṇava-sevā and seek edifying dialogue with realized devotees rather than idle talk.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.39 (Hari-kathā, dīkṣā, satsanga); Garuda Purana 3.19.42 (śālagrāma, sadguru, sadgāyana)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Murari
• Vaishnavas

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting Vishnu’s name (nāma-graha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that even taking Viṣṇu’s Name is rare and precious, implying it is a high-value spiritual practice that supports purification and devotion.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death teachings in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, inner spiritual support—bhakti, nāma-japa, and association with saintly devotees—is presented as difficult to obtain yet crucial preparation that strengthens one beyond mere external rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize daily nāma-japa of Viṣṇu, respectfully serve genuine devotees, and seek uplifting spiritual conversation (satsanga), treating these as rare opportunities for steady dharmic living.