Shloka 6

Nāma-mahātmya: Liberation through Salutation, Chanting, and the Mantra “Namo Nārāyaṇāya”

Devanagari script

प्रणम्य दण्डबद्भूमौ नमस्कारेण योर्ऽचयेत् / स यां गतिमवाप्नोति न तां क्रतुशतैरपि

Transliteration

praṇamya daṇḍabadbhūmau namaskāreṇa yor'cayet / sa yāṃ gatimavāpnoti na tāṃ kratuśatairapi

Translation

Wer sich wie ein Stab auf die Erde niederwirft und durch ehrfürchtige Verneigungen verehrt, erlangt einen Zustand der Befreiung, der selbst durch hundert Opferhandlungen nicht zu gewinnen ist.

Word by Word

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु) → प्रणम्य (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा/gerund) ‘having bowed’

• दण्डवत्: prostrating (like a staff)
• दण्डवत्: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘like a staff’ (prostrate)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• नमस्कारेण: by salutation
• नमस्कारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• याम्: which
• याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण-सर्वनाम

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अवाप्नोति: attains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

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

• ताम्: that (goal)
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• क्रतुशतैः: by hundreds of sacrifices
• क्रतुशतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्रतूनां शतानि)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात ‘even’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Daṇḍavat worship through namaskāra grants a gati unattainable even by a hundred sacrifices.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of surrender and grace over karma-kāṇḍa; mokṣa not produced by ritual quantity but revealed through devotion.

Application: Adopt regular prostration/namaskāra with mindfulness; reduce spiritual materialism; focus on inner surrender rather than accumulating rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/devotional space (temple or home shrine implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of namaskāra and Viṣṇu-bhakti as superior to elaborate rites (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of namaskāra (salutation) in Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates namaskāra with full prostration as a direct, powerful act of devotion whose spiritual fruit surpasses even large-scale ritual sacrifice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing inner reverence and worship, it points to a higher gati (spiritual attainment) rooted in devotion—implying that the soul’s best destination is secured through sincere bhakti rather than ritual quantity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer sincere reverence—humble prostration and heartfelt salutations—during worship and daily prayers, prioritizing devotion and ethical living over merely performing external rites.