Shloka 73

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

पूर्वाह्न एव कुर्वीत देवतानां च पूजनम् / न विष्णोः परमो देवस्तस्मात्तं पूजयेत्सदा

Transliteration

pūrvāhna eva kurvīta devatānāṃ ca pūjanam / na viṣṇoḥ paramo devastasmāttaṃ pūjayetsadā

Translation

One should perform the worship of the deities in the forenoon itself. For there is no deity higher than Viṣṇu; therefore one should always worship Him.

Word by Word

• पूर्वाह्ने: in the forenoon
• पूर्वाह्ने: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वाह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष समास (पूर्वः अह्नः भागः)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• कुर्वीत: should do
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवतानाम्: of the deities
• देवतानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

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

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म (object of कुर्वीत)

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

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: Karta (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (देवः)

• देवः: god
• देवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (Reason/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक तद्)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-रूप/निपातवत् (therefore; ablative adverbial from तद्), हेत्वर्थ

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विष्णुम् (understood)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Observe proper worship timing and recognize Viṣṇu as the supreme deity; therefore maintain constant worship of Him.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-paratva (supremacy of the Lord) and ekānta-bhakti (single-point devotion).

Application: Schedule daily pūjā in the forenoon when possible; keep a consistent Viṣṇu-centered practice (nāma-japa, arcana, remembrance) even while honoring other deities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temple/household shrine (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring praise of Viṣṇu-nāma and Viṣṇu-bhakti as protective and purifying (general internal resonance)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of worshiping in the forenoon according to Garuda Purana?

This verse advises that devatā-pūjā should be completed in the pūrvāhna (forenoon), indicating an auspicious and disciplined time for daily ritual observance.

How does this verse establish Vishnu’s status in the Garuda Purana?

It explicitly states that no deity is higher than Viṣṇu, and on that basis instructs continual worship of Him, presenting Viṣṇu as the supreme focus even within broader devatā worship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a consistent morning worship routine, include respectful devatā-pūjā, and prioritize Viṣṇu (or the Supreme as understood in your tradition) as the highest principle in daily devotion.