Shloka 26

Ajāna Lineages, Divine Classes, Ṛṣi Catalogues, and the Merit of Śravaṇa-Smaraṇa

Devanagari script

इदं तु स्तवनं विप्रा न पठन्तीह मानवाः / न शृण्वन्ति च ये नित्यं ते सर्वे चैव मायिनः

Transliteration

idaṃ tu stavanaṃ viprā na paṭhantīha mānavāḥ / na śṛṇvanti ca ye nityaṃ te sarve caiva māyinaḥ

Translation

Doch, o Brahmanen, die Menschen in dieser Welt, die diesen Hymnus weder rezitieren noch ihn regelmäßig hören—wisset, dass sie alle wahrlich von Māyā verblendet sind.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/however)

• स्तवनम्: hymn, praise
• स्तवनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• विप्राः: O brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (Vocative/Nominative), बहुवचन; here as address

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• पठन्ति: they recite/read
• पठन्ति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: here/in this world)

• मानवाः: people, humans
• मानवाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• शृण्वन्ति: they hear/listen
• शृण्वन्ति: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction: and)

• ये: who
• ये: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject of relative clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative: always)

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण/सर्वनामसदृश

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle: indeed/only)

• मायिनः: deceivers/illusionists
• मायिनः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Neglect of sacred praise (stavana) and regular listening/recitation indicates māyā-moha; remedy is nitya śravaṇa and pāṭha.

Vedantic Theme: Māyā as deluding power; viveka awakened through śravaṇa (hearing) and smṛti (remembrance) oriented to Bhagavān.

Application: Establish a routine of listening/reciting; reduce distractions; treat spiritual ‘input’ as daily nourishment for discernment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.9.25 (benefits of the practice); Garuda Purana 3.9.27 (consequence of eating without remembrance)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Vipras)
• Maya

FAQs

What is the importance of regularly reciting or hearing a stotra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames daily recitation (pāṭha) and listening (śravaṇa) as a protective spiritual discipline; neglecting it is described as a symptom of being overpowered by māyā.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana’s teaching style?

Rather than describing a specific after-death route here, the verse emphasizes a prerequisite for right understanding: consistent engagement with sacred instruction, without which one remains deluded and unprepared for dharmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a steady routine of reading or listening to a selected hymn/section with attention; treat it as daily mental training against distraction, self-deception, and ethical drift.