Shloka 40

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

सद्ब्राह्मणान्वन्दयेत्पादमूले हस्तौ च द्वौ संपुटीकृत्य देवि / साष्टाङ्गरुपं वन्दनं चैव विष्णोः कुर्यात्तथा गुरवे विष्णुबुद्ध्या

Transliteration

sadbrāhmaṇānvandayetpādamūle hastau ca dvau saṃpuṭīkṛtya devi / sāṣṭāṅgarupaṃ vandanaṃ caiva viṣṇoḥ kuryāttathā gurave viṣṇubuddhyā

Translation

O Devi, man soll die tugendhaften Brahmanen an ihren Füßen verehren, beide Hände ehrfürchtig gefaltet. Ebenso soll man vor Herrn Viṣṇu die Achtgliedrige Niederwerfung (sāṣṭāṅga) vollziehen; und ebenso dem Guru sich verneigen, in der Erkenntnis (viṣṇu-buddhi), dass er Viṣṇu ist.

Word by Word

• sat-brāhmaṇān: good brāhmaṇas
• sat-brāhmaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat+brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural; समास: sat-brāhmaṇa (कर्मधारय ‘good/virtuous brāhmaṇas’)

• vandayet: should salute
• vandayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vand (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ-lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• pāda-mūle: at the feet
• pāda-mūle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda+mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; समास: pāda-mūla (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘at the base of the feet’)

• hastau: hands
• hastau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual (द्विवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• dvau: two
• dvau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual; numeral adjective qualifying hastau

• saṃpuṭīkṛtya: having cupped/joined (the hands)
• saṃpuṭīkṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃpuṭī-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having joined/closed (the hands) in a hollow/añjali-like cup’

• devi: O देवी
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• sa-aṣṭāṅga-rūpam: in the form of prostration with eight limbs
• sa-aṣṭāṅga-rūpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa+aṣṭāṅga+rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; समास: sa-aṣṭāṅga (अव्ययीभाव/उपपद ‘with eight limbs’) + rūpa (तत्पुरुष ‘having the form of’)

• vandanam: salutation
• vandanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

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

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ-lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीतिवाचक अव्यय) ‘thus/likewise’

• gurave: to the guru
• gurave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• viṣṇu-buddhyā: with the understanding (of him) as Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-buddhyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu+buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; समास: viṣṇu-buddhi (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘understanding/thought of Viṣṇu’, i.e., ‘with the attitude that (he is) Viṣṇu’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction, addressed to Devi/consort in the verse-form transmission)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aṣṭāṅga praṇāma to Viṣṇu and reverence to guru with Viṣṇu-buddhi; honoring sādhus/brāhmaṇas as part of devotional life.

Vedantic Theme: Guru as manifest conduit of īśvara-jñāna; īśvara-bhāva in guru (not identity in egoic sense, but sacred representation).

Application: Practice respectful greetings (añjali, bowing) to teachers and elders; cultivate gratitude and humility; keep devotion centered on Viṣṇu while honoring the guru as spiritual guide.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.41 (salutations to tulasī, rivers, etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Guru
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring Brahmanas and the Guru in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames reverence to virtuous Brahmanas and the Guru as a core dharmic discipline, aligning one’s conduct with Vishnu-bhakti and spiritual merit (puṇya).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on the soul’s journey and after-death rites?

The Preta Kanda repeatedly emphasizes dharmic living and correct ritual disposition; honoring Brahmanas (often recipients/performers of śrāddha rites) and viewing the Guru as Vishnu supports proper performance and sanctity of rites connected to post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain humility and reverence: offer respectful añjali and pranam to learned, ethical teachers and elders, and treat one’s spiritual guide with devotion and integrity, avoiding hypocrisy while practicing worship and ritual.