Shloka 21

Dāna-dharma: Threefold Classification, Right Recipients, Auspicious Timing, and Fruits of Gifts

Devanagari script

मुमुक्षुः सर्वसंसारात्प्रयत्नेनार्चयेद्धरिम् / अकामः सर्वकामो वा पूजयेत्तु गदाधरम्

Transliteration

mumukṣuḥ sarvasaṃsārātprayatnenārcayeddharim / akāmaḥ sarvakāmo vā pūjayettu gadādharam

Translation

Wer nach Befreiung aus dem ganzen Kreislauf des Saṃsāra verlangt, soll mit ernstem Eifer Hari verehren. Ob wunschlos oder voller Wünsche: verehre Gadādhara (Viṣṇu, den Träger der Keule).

Word by Word

• मुमुक्षुः: one who seeks liberation
• मुमुक्षुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मुमुक्षु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इच्छार्थक-उणादि/कृदन्त (desiderative sense: one wishing to be liberated)

• सर्व-संसारात्: from the entire cycle of worldly existence
• सर्व-संसारात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वः संसारः)

• प्रयत्नेन: with effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अकामः: one without desire
• अकामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/नञ्) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (desireless)

• सर्व-कामः: one desiring all (objects) / one with all desires
• सर्व-कामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वे कामाः यस्य/सर्वकामः)

• वा: or
• वा: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive: or)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तु: indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ (indeed)

• गदा-धरम्: Gadādhara (Viṣṇu, bearer of the mace)
• गदा-धरम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (गदां धरति इति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari-worship is the direct means for liberation; Vishnu is to be worshipped by the desireless and the desire-filled alike.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-bhakti as purifier and liberator; convergence of sakama and nishkama into devotion to the Supreme (parama-purusha).

Application: Maintain steady Vishnu-upasana (nama, archana, smarana); even worldly desires can be redirected toward the Lord, gradually ripening into mumukshutva.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.51.20 (sakama devata-upasana); Garuda Purana 1.51.22-24 (dana as dharmic karma supporting purification)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Gadadhara (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Hari in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Hari-worship as a direct means for one seeking release from saṃsāra, emphasizing sincere effort (prayatna) as the essential attitude.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than detailing post-death travel, it points to the root solution—devotion to Vishnu—as the way to transcend repeated birth and death (saṃsāra).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular Vishnu-pūjā (arcana), whether you seek worldly aims or inner freedom, and gradually align desires toward liberation through disciplined devotion.