Shloka 16

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

विष्णुं संस्मरतः सा मे हृदयान्नोपसर्पति / दृढभक्तो ऽपि वेदादिसर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः

Transliteration

viṣṇuṃ saṃsmarataḥ sā me hṛdayānnopasarpati / dṛḍhabhakto 'pi vedādisarvaśāstrārthapāragaḥ

Translation

Solange ich Viṣṇu unablässig im Herzen vergegenwärtige, naht sie meinem Herzen nicht. Selbst wenn einer standhaft in Bhakti ist und die Bedeutungen aller Schriften, beginnend mit den Veden, durchdrungen hat, wird die innere Unruhe durch das Gedenken an Viṣṇu ferngehalten.

Word by Word

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

• संस्मरतः: (they) remember
• संस्मरतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन; वर्तमानकाले ‘they remember’

• सा: she/that (thing)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मे: my/of me
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘of me/my’

• हृदयात्: from the heart
• हृदयात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Modifier (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• उपसर्पति: approaches/comes near
• उपसर्पति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप+सृप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• दृढभक्तः: a steadfast devotee
• दृढभक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढ+भक्त (प्रातिपदिक); दृढ (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘firm’ + ‘devotee’)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Modifier (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-अव्यय (also/even)

• वेदादिसर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः: one well-versed in the meanings of all scriptures, beginning with the Vedas
• वेदादिसर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद+आदि+सर्व+शास्त्र+अर्थ+पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (‘veda etc.’ + ‘all śāstras’ + ‘meanings’ + ‘one who has gone to the far shore/knower’)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu in dialogue

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-smaraṇa wards off inner disturbance; remembrance surpasses mere scriptural erudition.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin and citta-śuddhi as prerequisites for higher realization; bhakti as a direct purifier of mind.

Application: Adopt daily japa/smaraṇa of Viṣṇu (nāma or mantra) especially when temptation, fear, or agitation arises; treat study as supportive, not sufficient.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-khaṇḍa/ācāra sections): repeated praise of nāma-smaraṇa and Viṣṇu-bhakti as purifier; Garuda Purana: contrasts between śāstra-jñāna and bhakti in adjacent verses (1.227.17–20)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vedas

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-smaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents remembrance of Viṣṇu as a direct inner safeguard: it prevents disturbing forces (fear, delusion, grief, temptation) from entering the heart, even beyond what scholarship alone can accomplish.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and fear of death?

In Garuḍa Purāṇa’s broader teaching, fear and confusion intensify around death and the after-death transition; the verse highlights that steady Viṣṇu-remembrance stabilizes the mind-heart, supporting a clearer, dharmic passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (japa, nāma-saṅkīrtana, or mindful remembrance) alongside study; treat devotion as the living force that turns knowledge into calm conduct and resilience.