Shloka 55

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

वेदाक्षराणि यावन्ति पठितानि द्विजातिभिः / तावन्ति हरिनामानि प्रियाणि च हरेःसदा

Transliteration

vedākṣarāṇi yāvanti paṭhitāni dvijātibhiḥ / tāvanti harināmāni priyāṇi ca hareḥsadā

Translation

So viele heilige Silben der Veden von den Zweimalgeborenen rezitiert werden, so viele sind die Namen Haris—Namen, die dem Herrn Hari stets lieb sind.

Word by Word

• वेदाक्षराणि: Vedic syllables/letters
• वेदाक्षराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य अक्षराणि)

• यावन्ति: as many as
• यावन्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक विशेषण

• पठितानि: recited/read
• पठितानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘read/recited’

• द्विजातिभिः: by the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि-जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्विजानां जातिः/द्विजातिः)

• तावन्ति: so many
• तावन्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक विशेषण

• हरिनामानि: names of Hari
• हरिनामानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि-नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (हरेः नामानि)

• प्रियाणि: dear/beloved
• प्रियाणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (नामानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (always)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari-nama is coextensive with Vedic sacred sound; divine names are endlessly dear to Hari and spiritually potent.

Vedantic Theme: Shabda-brahma culminating in Para-brahman as Vishnu; nama as accessible upasana bridging ritual learning and devotion.

Application: Integrate Veda-study with japa/kirtana of Vishnu’s names; treat nama as daily sadhana regardless of scholastic capacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.56-57 (Hari as Lord of all; Veda praises Him everywhere)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Veda
• Dvijati

FAQs

What is the importance of Hari-nama (chanting Vishnu’s names) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates Hari’s names as intrinsically precious—countless and ever-beloved—placing them alongside the sanctity of Vedic recitation as a potent devotional practice.

How does this verse connect Vedic study with devotion to Vishnu?

It links the ‘Vedic syllables recited’ with the ‘names of Hari,’ implying that devotion through divine-name remembrance harmonizes with (and is validated by) Vedic sacred sound.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a daily practice of Hari-nama japa (e.g., repeating Vishnu’s names) with reverence, treating it as disciplined sacred recitation that supports dharma and inner purification.