Shloka 2

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

किं तस्य दानैः किन्तीर्थैः किं तपोभिः किमध्वरैः / यो नित्यं ध्यायते देवं नारायणमनन्यधीः

Transliteration

kiṃ tasya dānaiḥ kintīrthaiḥ kiṃ tapobhiḥ kimadhvaraiḥ / yo nityaṃ dhyāyate devaṃ nārāyaṇamananyadhīḥ

Translation

What need has he of gifts, pilgrimages, austerities, or sacrificial rites—he who constantly meditates on the Lord Narayana with an undivided mind?

Word by Word

• किम्: what (use?)
• किम्: Karma (Implied object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• तस्य: for him/of him
• तस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• दानैः: with gifts
• दानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• किम्: what (use?)
• किम्: Karma (Implied object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• तीर्थैः: with pilgrimages/sacred places
• तीर्थैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• किम्: what (use?)
• किम्: Karma (Implied object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• तपोभिः: with austerities
• तपोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• किम्: what (use?)
• किम्: Karma (Implied object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• अध्वरैः: with sacrifices
• अध्वरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

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

• ध्यायते: meditates
• ध्यायते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; देवम् इत्यस्य विशेष्य (apposition)

• अनन्यधीः: with undivided mind
• अनन्यधीः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य + धी (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (यः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Narayana) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra), typical Garuda Purana dialogue frame

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ananya-dhyāna (undivided meditation) renders auxiliary means (dāna, tīrtha, tapas, adhvara) secondary for the seeker’s spiritual fulfillment.

Vedantic Theme: Ekāgratā and upāsanā-niṣṭhā; internalization of sādhanā where the mind’s constancy is the principal instrument.

Application: Establish a fixed daily dhyāna/japa schedule; reduce compulsive ‘spiritual checklisting’; keep charity and pilgrimage as expressions of devotion, not as bargaining tools.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.230.1; Garuda Purana 1.229.8; Garuda Purana 1.230.3

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of constant meditation on Narayana in Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates nitya-dhyana with an undivided mind as spiritually sufficient, implying it can fulfill the inner purpose that charity, pilgrimages, austerities, and sacrifices aim to achieve.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like death rituals and afterlife merit?

While the Garuda Purana discusses rites and merit, this verse stresses that inner devotion—steady remembrance of Narayana—stands as a direct, powerful means of purification and ultimate welfare beyond external ritual performance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily focused remembrance/meditation on Narayana (e.g., japa, dhyana, or nama-smarana) with sincerity; let rituals and charity support devotion rather than replace it.