Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

प्रणाममीशस्य शिरः फलं विदुस्तदर्चनं पाणिफलं दिवौकसः / मनः फलं तद्गुणकर्मचिन्तनं वचस्तु गोविन्दगुणस्तुतिः फलम्

Transliteration

praṇāmamīśasya śiraḥ phalaṃ vidustadarcanaṃ pāṇiphalaṃ divaukasaḥ / manaḥ phalaṃ tadguṇakarmacintanaṃ vacastu govindaguṇastutiḥ phalam

Translation

The wise know that bowing to the Lord is the true fruition of the head; worship of Him is the fruition of the hands. The fruit of the mind is contemplation on His qualities and deeds; and the fruit of speech is praise of Govinda’s virtues.

Word by Word

• प्रणामम्: bowing/salutation
• प्रणामम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (विधेय-नाम)

• ईशस्य: of the Lord
• ईशस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (विधेय-नाम)

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Pradhana-visheshya (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र विधेय (predicate)

• विदुः: know/declare
• विदुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्शभूत; perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तत्-अर्चनम्: His worship
• तत्-अर्चनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tasya arcanam)

• पाणि-फलम्: fruit of the hands
• पाणि-फलम्: Pradhana-visheshya (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (pāṇeḥ phalam)

• दिवौकसः: the gods (dwellers in heaven)
• दिवौकसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवौकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Pradhana-visheshya (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र विधेय

• तत्-गुण-कर्म-चिन्तनम्: contemplation of His qualities and deeds
• तत्-गुण-कर्म-चिन्तनम्: Pradhana-visheshya (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘tasya guṇa-karmayoḥ cintanam’

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• तु: but/and indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Contrast (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• गोविन्द-गुण-स्तुतिः: praise of Govinda’s qualities
• गोविन्द-गुण-स्तुतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘govindasya guṇānāṃ stutiḥ’

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Pradhana-visheshya (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र विधेय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Each faculty has its true fruition in īśvara-sambandha: bowing, worship, contemplation, and praise.

Vedantic Theme: Karma and jñāna become purifying when oriented to Bhagavān; inner organ (antaḥkaraṇa) finds telos in guṇa-karmānusmṛti.

Application: Adopt a fourfold daily practice: praṇāma, arcana, guṇa-karmadhyāna, and kīrtana/stuti.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated stress on nāma-stuti and smaraṇa as purifiers and supports at death

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Isha
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of dedicating head, hands, mind, and speech to Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches integrated devotion: the body bows and worships, the mind remembers the Lord’s qualities and deeds, and speech praises Him—making all faculties spiritually fruitful.

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

By emphasizing constant worship and remembrance of Govinda, it points to bhakti as a sustaining force that purifies karma and supports the soul’s auspicious course toward higher realms and liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer daily pranama, simple archana (lamp/flowers), reflect on Vishnu’s virtues and actions, and keep speech aligned with kirtana—reducing harmful talk and strengthening dharmic living.