Shloka 134

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

पुराणं पूजयेत्पूर्वं वाचकं तदनन्तरम् / वस्त्रालङ्कारगोदानैर्दक्षिणाभिश्च सादरम्

Transliteration

purāṇaṃ pūjayetpūrvaṃ vācakaṃ tadanantaram / vastrālaṅkāragodānairdakṣiṇābhiśca sādaram

Translation

Zuerst soll die Purāṇa selbst verehrt werden, danach der Vortragende. In Ehrfurcht bringe man Gaben dar—Kleider, Schmuck und Kühe—und gebe auch Dakṣiṇā (Ehrengabe).

Word by Word

• पुराणम्: the Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

• पूजयेत्: should worship/honour
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: first)

• वाचकम्: the reciter/reader
• वाचकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; accusative singular

• तत्: that (then)
• तत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; pronoun used adverbially with अनन्तरम्

• अनन्तरम्: afterwards, immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग/क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative): “immediately after”

• वस्त्रालङ्कारगोदानैः: with clothes, ornaments, and gifts of cows
• वस्त्रालङ्कारगोदानैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + अलङ्कार + गोदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): वस्त्राणि च अलङ्काराः च गोदानानि च; तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• दक्षिणाभिः: with honoraria/fees (dakṣiṇās)
• दक्षिणाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सादरम्: respectfully, with reverence
• सादरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सादर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative): “respectfully”

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Honor the sacred text and the transmitter; offer appropriate gifts (vastra, alaṅkāra, go-dāna) and dakṣiṇā with reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra and guru as twin supports; dāna as purification of possessiveness (mala) aiding spiritual readiness.

Application: Before study/recitation, ritually respect the book/teaching; support teachers and dharmic institutions through planned giving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/recitation hall or household shrine space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.133 (gifts and observances after hearing); Garuda Purana 2.49.131 (honoring the speaker)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Purana
• Vachaka

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring the Purana and the reciter in Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches ritual propriety: the scripture is revered first as sacred knowledge, and the reciter is honored next as the transmitter of that knowledge, completing the act of Purana-patha with respect.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana death rituals?

In the Preta Kanda context, Purana recitation is treated as a meritorious rite; offering dakṣiṇā and gifts like clothing and cow-dāna supports the rite’s dharmic completion and is traditionally linked with śrāddha-related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sacred learning with reverence, support authentic teachers/reciters ethically (fair honorarium), and practice charity (dāna) with sincerity rather than as a mere formality.