Shloka 6

Stuti to Vāsudeva and the Vyūhas; Dharma-Jñāna as the Path to the Lotus-Feet

Devanagari script

ॐ नमो भगवते महापुराषाय महाभूतपतये सकलसत्त्वभाविव्रीडनिकरकमलरेणूत्पलनिभधर्माख्यविद्यया? चरणारविन्दयुगल परमेष्ठिन् नमस्ते / अवाप विद्याधरतां चित्रकेतोश्च विद्यया

Transliteration

oṃ namo bhagavate mahāpurāṣāya mahābhūtapataye sakalasattvabhāvivrīḍanikarakamalareṇūtpalanibhadharmākhyavidyayā? caraṇāravindayugala parameṣṭhin namaste / avāpa vidyādharatāṃ citraketośca vidyayā

Translation

Om—salutations to the Blessed Lord, the Great Person, the Lord of the great elements. Through the knowledge called Dharma—radiant like the lotus and its pollen, awakening reverence in all beings—I draw near to Your lotus feet. O Parameṣṭhin, I bow to Your pair of lotus-feet. By that very knowledge, Citraketu too attained the status of a Vidyādhara.

Word by Word

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambandha (Invocation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव-निपात (sacred syllable)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (Salutation act/क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (salutation)

• भगवते: to the Blessed Lord
• भगवते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• महापुराषाय: to the great ancient one
• महापुराषाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापुराष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् पुराषः)

• महाभूतपतये: to the lord of the great elements
• महाभूतपतये: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभूत-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महाभूतानां पतिः)

• सकलसत्त्वभाविव्रीडनिकरकमलरेणूत्पलनिभधर्माख्यविद्यया: by the knowledge called Dharma, likened to a lotus-pollen cluster of modesty that arises in all beings
• सकलसत्त्वभाविव्रीडनिकरकमलरेणूत्पलनिभधर्माख्यविद्यया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल-सत्त्व-भावि-व्रीड-निकर-कमल-रेणु-उत्पल-निभ-धर्म-आख्या-विद्या (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः (प्रधानतः तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला); 'धर्माख्या विद्या' इति मुख्यं, तया (instrument)

• चरणारविन्दयुगल: (O) pair of lotus-feet
• चरणारविन्दयुगल: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण-अरविन्द-युगल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual; here vocative-like address), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (चरणयोः अरविन्दम्; तस्य युगलम्)

• परमेष्ठिन्: O Supreme Lord
• परमेष्ठिन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (Salutation act/क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (salutation)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अवाप: obtained
• अवाप: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विद्याधरताम्: the state of being a Vidyādhara
• विद्याधरताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याधरता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विद्याधराणां भावः/ता)

• चित्रकेतोः: of Citraketu
• चित्रकेतोः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्रकेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विद्यया: by (this) knowledge
• विद्यया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu (Mahāpurusha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Approach to the Lord’s lotus-feet through ‘Dharma’/‘Viṣṇu-dharma’ vidyā; transformative power of sacred knowledge/mantra leading to exalted states (Citraketu as Vidyādhara).

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti supported by vidyā (upāsanā) and dharma as a means to purification and divine attainment; īśvara as pañca-mahābhūta-pati (lord of elements).

Application: Adopt disciplined recitation/learning of Viṣṇu-dharma vidyā with ethical conduct; keep a daily practice anchored in pāda-sevā (service/remembering the lotus-feet).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising Viṣṇu-dharma/viṣṇu-mantra as protective and elevating; Narrative allusion to Citraketu’s elevation (Purāṇic motif)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda
• Citraketu
• Vidyadharas

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘Dharma-vidyā’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Dharma-vidyā as a transformative spiritual knowledge that leads one to the Lord’s lotus-feet and grants elevated states of being, exemplified by Citraketu’s attainment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than detailing punishments or afterlife routes, it highlights the inner path: reverent knowledge aligned with Dharma directs consciousness toward the Supreme, leading to upliftment and higher attainments.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharmic living and study (vidyā) with humility and devotion—treat ethical conduct and spiritual learning as a direct means to steady the mind and elevate one’s character.