Shloka 70

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

शालग्रामं विहायैव नमनं ये प्रकुर्वते / ते सर्वे हरिनिन्दायामविकारिण एव हि

Transliteration

śālagrāmaṃ vihāyaiva namanaṃ ye prakurvate / te sarve harinindāyāmavikāriṇa eva hi

Translation

Wer Verneigungen darbringt, dabei aber den Śālagrāma vernachlässigt, der ist wahrlich insgesamt in der Herabsetzung Haris befangen und bleibt in diesem Fehltritt unverändert.

Word by Word

• śālagrāmam: Śālagrāma (sacred stone)
• śālagrāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• vihāya: having left aside
• vihāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + hā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having abandoned/excepting’

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; emphatic particle (निपात)

• namanam: bowing/salutation
• namanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of prakurvate

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; relative pronoun

• prakurvate: perform/do
• prakurvate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; demonstrative pronoun

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; qualifying te

• hari-nindāyām: in (the act of) criticizing Hari
• hari-nindāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + nindā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• avikāriṇaḥ: unchanged / unrepentant
• avikāriṇaḥ: Pradhāna (प्रधान/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a + vikārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; predicate adjective for te sarve; ‘unchanged/unrepentant’

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; emphatic particle (निपात)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable; particle (निपात) giving emphasis/reason ‘indeed/for’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True reverence must include honoring Śālagrāma; selective salutations that bypass Viṣṇu’s principal emblem amount to harinindā and indicate lack of inner transformation.

Vedantic Theme: Arcā-tattva: the Lord’s presence in consecrated forms; inner disposition (bhāva) must align with outer act (kriyā).

Application: If one’s practice includes Śālagrāma worship, do not treat it as optional; align daily namaskāra with one’s iṣṭa-devatā commitments and avoid performative piety.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: sacred icon/stone; domestic shrine or temple

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.69 (harinindā regarding symbols); Garuda Purana 3.12.71-72 (ignorant separative cognition leads to duḥkha)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Śālagrāma
• Viṣṇu
• Garuda (implied listener)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Śālagrāma as a primary, tangible emblem of Hari; neglecting it while performing external salutations is portrayed as a form of disrespect, implying that devotion should be aligned with proper sacred observance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in relation to devotion and rites?

In the Preta Kanda’s ethical-ritual framework, inner reverence must match correct worship; careless or contradictory practice is counted as a fault against Hari, which can obstruct spiritual merit that supports the soul’s auspicious post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep worship consistent and sincere: honor sacred symbols and prescribed forms (as per one’s tradition), avoid token gestures, and ensure daily devotion is not merely performative but disciplined and respectful.