Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

अनेक जन्मार्जितपुण्यसंचयात्तद्भर्तारो विष्णुभक्ता भवेयुः / कलौ युगे दुर्लभा विष्णुभक्ता हरेभक्तिर्दुर्लभा सर्वदैव

Transliteration

aneka janmārjitapuṇyasaṃcayāttadbhartāro viṣṇubhaktā bhaveyuḥ / kalau yuge durlabhā viṣṇubhaktā harebhaktirdurlabhā sarvadaiva

Translation

Nur durch den über viele Geburten angesammelten Vorrat an Verdienst werden Menschen zu Verehrern Viṣṇus. Im Kali-Yuga sind Viṣṇu-Bhaktas selten; ja, Hingabe (Bhakti) zu Hari ist stets schwer zu erlangen.

Word by Word

• aneka: many
• aneka: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adjective used as qualifier; here qualifying janma (neuter) in compound sense 'many'

• janma-arjita-puṇya-saṃcayāt: from accumulated merit earned over many births
• janma-arjita-puṇya-saṃcayāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman + arjita (√arj, क्त) + puṇya + saṃcaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; compound meaning 'from the accumulation of merit earned in many births'

• tad: of that/of her
• tad: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; used as possessive qualifier to bhartāraḥ (in sense 'of her/that')

• bhartāraḥ: husbands
• bhartāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: devotees of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + bhakta (√bhaj, क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'devotees of Viṣṇu'

• bhaveyuḥ: may become/would be
• bhaveyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• kalau: in Kali (age)
• kalau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• yuge: in the age/era
• yuge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• durlabhāḥ: rare
• durlabhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ

• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: devotees of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + bhakta (√bhaj, क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

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

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-bhakti arises from saṃcita-puṇya across many births; in Kali it is especially rare and thus precious.

Vedantic Theme: daiva-anugraha and puṇya as adhikāra for bhakti; bhakti as the highest human attainment amid saṃsāra.

Application: Treat devotion as a hard-won treasure: cultivate nāma-smaraṇa, satsanga, and steady practice without complacency; value small opportunities for worship in Kali-yuga.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.39-42 (durlabha-list: kathā, dīkṣā, satsanga, pradakṣiṇā, śālagrāma, sadguru)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari
• Kali Yuga

FAQs

What is the importance of past-life merit (puṇya) in attaining bhakti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that devotion to Viṣṇu arises from a store of merit accumulated over many births, indicating bhakti is supported by long-term ethical and spiritual cultivation.

Why does the Garuda Purana say Vishnu devotees are rare in Kali Yuga?

The verse emphasizes that in Kali Yuga true Viṣṇu-bhakti is difficult to obtain, implying that distractions and declining dharma make sustained devotion uncommon.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in a way that builds puṇya—truthfulness, compassion, self-restraint—and pair it with steady Hari-nāma and worship, understanding that consistent practice over time matures into bhakti.