Shloka 1

Hymns to Nārāyaṇa: Humility, Bhakti, Yoga, and the Guṇas

Devanagari script

नाम सप्तमो ऽध्यायः क्रतोरनन्तरं जातो मित्रो (श्रो) नाम खगेश्वर / नारायणं जगद्योनिं स्तोतुं समुपचक्रमे

Transliteration

nāma saptamo 'dhyāyaḥ kratoranantaraṃ jāto mitro (śro) nāma khageśvara / nārāyaṇaṃ jagadyoniṃ stotuṃ samupacakrame

Translation

Nach dem Opfer (Kratu) entstand das siebte Kapitel. Dann begann der Herr der Vögel, Mitra genannt (wie man hört), Nārāyaṇa zu preisen, den Schoß und Ursprung des Weltalls.

Word by Word

• नाम: namely, called
• नाम: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; नाम-शब्दः (quotative/particle: ‘called/namely’)

• सप्तमः: seventh
• सप्तमः: Qualifier (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्रमवाचक-विशेषणम् (ordinal)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• क्रतोः: of Kratu
• क्रतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: immediately after)

• जातः: was born/arose
• जातः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (PPP used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• मित्रः: Mitra
• मित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Modifier (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; नाम-शब्दः (appositive marker: ‘by name’)

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• जगद्योनिम्: the source of the world
• जगद्योनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (जगतः योनिḥ)

• स्तोतुम्: to praise
• स्तोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्तः (infinitive); प्रयोजनार्थः (purpose)

• समुपचक्रमे: began/undertook
• समुपचक्रमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्; उपसर्गौ: सम्+उप

Speaker

Suta/Narrator (textual narrator introducing the scene; Garuda is about to speak)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After ritual action, the highest orientation is praise of Nārāyaṇa, the source of the universe—devotion as the culmination and inner meaning of sacrifice.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Īśvara as jagad-kāraṇa (material and efficient cause) expressed theistically as Nārāyaṇa; karma (kratu) finds fulfillment in bhakti and right understanding.

Application: Let external duties/rituals conclude in gratitude and remembrance of the divine source; begin new undertakings with a short stotra or nāma-smaraṇa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: textual chapter-opening / ritual aftermath

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: transitions from ritual topics to stotra/bhakti sections (general internal pattern)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Khageshvara)
• Narayana (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Narayana at the start of a section in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the upcoming teaching as rooted in Nārāyaṇa—the cosmic source—so the discourse begins with a devotional invocation that sanctifies the narration.

How does this verse explain the narrative flow between Garuda and Vishnu?

It functions as a transition: the narrator notes that Garuda (khageśvara) is about to begin a hymn of praise to Nārāyaṇa, setting up Garuda’s role as the questioner/devotee in the dialogue.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin study, rituals, or important undertakings with remembrance/praise of the divine source (Nārāyaṇa), cultivating clarity, humility, and devotional focus.