Shloka 16

Jāmbavatī’s Vaiṣṇava-Ācāra: Grace, Sense-Consecration, and Pilgrimage to Śrīnivāsa on Veṅkaṭādri

Devanagari script

पादौ हरेः क्षेत्रपथानुसर्पणे शिरो हृषीकेशपदाभिवन्दने / कामं हृदास्ये तु हरिदास्यकाम्या तथोत्तमश्लोकजनाश्चरन्ति

Transliteration

pādau hareḥ kṣetrapathānusarpaṇe śiro hṛṣīkeśapadābhivandane / kāmaṃ hṛdāsye tu haridāsyakāmyā tathottamaślokajanāścaranti

Translation

Die Geweihten des Herrn — dessen Ruhm die erhabensten Hymnen besingen — lassen ihre Füße den heiligen Wegen zu Haris Pilgerstätten folgen; sie neigen ihr Haupt vor den Füßen Hṛṣīkeśas; und mit Herz und Wort hegen sie nur ein einziges Verlangen: die Sehnsucht, Hari zu dienen. So führen die dem Höchsten Herrn ergebenen Menschen ihr Leben.

Word by Word

• पादौ: (the two) feet
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), द्विवचन; nominative/accusative dual

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular

• क्षेत्र-पथ-अनुसर्पणे: in traversing the paths of pilgrimage-sites
• क्षेत्र-पथ-अनुसर्पणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र + पथ + अनुसर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular; ‘in following/going along the paths to holy places’

• शिरः: the head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• हृषीकेश-पद-अभिवन्दने: in reverently bowing to Hṛṣīkeśa’s feet
• हृषीकेश-पद-अभिवन्दने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश + पद + अभिवन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular; ‘in bowing to the feet of Hṛṣīkeśa’

• कामम्: surely/indeed
• कामम्: Sambandha (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारणार्थे (‘indeed, surely’)

• हृदा: with the heart
• हृदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular

• आस्ये: in the mouth/face
• आस्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय; particle ‘but/indeed’

• हरि-दास्य-काम्याः: those who desire service to Hari
• हरि-दास्य-काम्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + दास्य + काम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural masculine; ‘desiring servitude to Hari’ (विशेषण of जनाः)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (‘thus, likewise’)

• उत्तम-श्लोक-जनाः: the devotees of Uttamaśloka
• उत्तम-श्लोक-जनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम + श्लोक + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; nominative plural; ‘people devoted to Uttamaśloka (Viṣṇu)’

• चरन्ति: practice/engage in
• चरन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Whole-body bhakti: feet for tīrtha-walking, head for prostration, heart and speech for dāsya-icchā; life becomes a continuous offering.

Vedantic Theme: Ekāgratā and antaḥkaraṇa-niyama through bhakti; karma becomes īśvara-arpita, reducing ahaṅkāra and saṃsāra-binding vāsanā.

Application: Adopt ‘pilgrimage in conduct’: visit sacred places when possible; otherwise, daily bowing, remembrance, and service-intent in speech and decisions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/ksetra pilgrimage routes

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: tīrtha-mahātmyas and bhakti-ācāra passages emphasizing vandana, tīrthāṭana, and sevā as purifiers

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Hṛṣīkeśa
• Uttamaśloka

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion (bhakti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents bhakti as a complete life-practice—walking the paths of holy places, bowing to the Lord, and keeping the heart and speech fixed on service to Hari—implying devotion as a direct purifier and spiritual aim.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing constant service and remembrance of Hari through body (walking), head (reverence), and inner faculties (heart and speech), it points to a life that prepares the soul for auspicious passage and higher destiny through God-centered conduct.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a simple triad: visit or support sacred spaces, practice daily acts of reverence (prayer/prostration), and align speech and intentions toward selfless service—making devotion a lived discipline rather than a occasional ritual.