Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

क्षमां कुर्वन्ति क्रुद्धेषु दयां मूर्खेषु मानवाः / मुदञ्च धर्मशीलेषु गोविन्दे हृदयस्थिते

Transliteration

kṣamāṃ kurvanti kruddheṣu dayāṃ mūrkheṣu mānavāḥ / mudañca dharmaśīleṣu govinde hṛdayasthite

Translation

People show forgiveness toward the angry, compassion toward the foolish, and joy in the company of the virtuous—when Govinda abides within the heart.

Word by Word

• क्षमाम्: forgiveness
• क्षमाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• कुर्वन्ति: do/practice
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम्

• क्रुद्धेषु: towards the angry (people)
• क्रुद्धेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु) → क्रुद्ध (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used substantively); पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• दयाम्: compassion
• दयाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• मूर्खेषु: towards fools
• मूर्खेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• मानवाः: people/humans
• मानवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनम्

• मुदम्: joy
• मुदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम् (पाठे ‘मुदम्’/‘मुदं’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• धर्मशीलेषु: towards the virtuous
• धर्मशीलेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मे शीलं येषाम्/धर्मशील); पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• गोविन्दे: in/with regard to Govinda
• गोविन्दे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• हृदयस्थिते: who is situated in the heart
• हृदयस्थिते: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (स्था धातोः क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (हृदये स्थितः); पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्; ‘गोविन्दे’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Govinda) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When Govinda abides in the heart, virtues arise naturally: forgiveness toward the angry, compassion toward the ignorant, and joy in the company of the righteous.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi: inner devotion refines the mind, expressing as sāttvika guṇas and spontaneous dharmic conduct.

Application: Use devotional remembrance before responding to provocation; cultivate kṣamā/dayā as direct expressions of inner worship; seek dharma-śīla company (sat-saṅga).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.230.24 (steadfast mind); Garuda Purana 1.230.26 (cutting māyā through Keśava-offered mind)

Characters & Entities

• Govinda

FAQs

What is the importance of forgiveness (kṣamā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents forgiveness as a deliberate dharmic response—especially toward anger—arising naturally when the heart is aligned with Govinda (inner divine presence).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

While not describing after-death travel directly, it defines the inner qualities—compassion, forgiveness, delight in the virtuous—that purify the mind and support a sattvic course of life that the Purana links with auspicious destinies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Respond to anger with restraint, treat ignorance with compassion, and seek the company of ethical people—using remembrance of Govinda as the inner anchor for these habits.