Shloka 39

Devanagari script

सा जिह्वा या हरिं स्तौति तच्चित्तं यत्तदर्पितम् / तावेव केवलौ श्लाघ्यौ यौ तत्पूजाकरौ करौ

Transliteration

sā jihvā yā hariṃ stauti taccittaṃ yattadarpitam / tāveva kevalau ślāghyau yau tatpūjākarau karau

Translation

That alone is a true tongue which praises Hari; that alone is a true mind which is offered to Him. Only those two hands are truly worthy of praise which perform His worship.

Word by Word

• सा: that (she/that)
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• जिह्वा: tongue
• जिह्वा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• या: which
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• स्तौति: praises
• स्तौति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्-चित्तम्: that mind (mind devoted to Him)
• तत्-चित्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tasya cittam)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यत् (relative pronoun)

• तत्-अर्पितम्: offered/dedicated to Him
• तत्-अर्पितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्पित (कृदन्त; √अर्प् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘offered/dedicated to that (Him)’

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• केवलौ: alone/only
• केवलौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• श्लाघ्यौ: praiseworthy
• श्लाघ्यौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्लाघ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• यौ: which two
• यौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यत्

• तत्-पूजा-करौ: doing His worship
• तत्-पूजा-करौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘tasya pūjāyāḥ karau’ (hands that perform His worship)

• करौ: two hands
• करौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True worth of tongue, mind, and hands is fulfilled only in Hari-stuti, arpaṇa-bhāva, and pūjā.

Vedantic Theme: Karaṇa-śuddhi through īśvara-sambandha; bhakti as sanctification of instruments (indriyas).

Application: Daily: chant/recite Hari’s names, keep the mind offered (īśvara-arpita), and perform some concrete act of worship/service with the hands.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-khaṇḍa/ācāra sections): repeated emphasis on Viṣṇu-nāma and bhakti as purifier

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of dedicating speech, mind, and actions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines genuine spiritual life as devotion expressed through speech (praise of Hari), inner intention (a mind offered to Him), and action (hands engaged in worship).

How does this verse relate to liberation teachings in the Garuda Purana?

By emphasizing wholehearted devotion—thought, word, and deed—the verse points to a purifying discipline that supports dharma and prepares one for auspicious spiritual outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use speech for sincere remembrance (nāma/stuti), keep the mind oriented to the Divine through daily intention, and translate devotion into concrete acts like puja, service, and ethical conduct.