Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

यत्किञ्चित्कुरुते कर्म पुरुषः साध्वसाधु वा / सर्वं नारायणे न्यस्य कुर्वन्नपि न लिम्पति

Transliteration

yatkiñcitkurute karma puruṣaḥ sādhvasādhu vā / sarvaṃ nārāyaṇe nyasya kurvannapi na limpati

Translation

Whatever action a person performs—whether virtuous or sinful—by placing it all in Nārāyaṇa as an offering and acting in that spirit, one is not tainted by it even while doing it.

Word by Word

• यत्-किञ्चित्: whatever (anything)
• यत्-किञ्चित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास ‘whatever/anything at all’ (कर्मपदत्वेन)

• कुरुते: does
• कुरुते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कर्म: action/deed
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पुरुषः: a person
• पुरुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• साधु: good
• साधु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण (qualifier of ‘कर्म’)

• असाधु: bad
• असाधु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असाधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha/Alternative (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विकल्पार्थ (or)

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘कर्म’ इत्यस्य समाहारः

• नारायणे: in/unto Narayana
• नारायणे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• न्यस्य: having dedicated/placed
• न्यस्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + अस्/न्यास (धातु √अस्/√न्यस् ‘to place’; here √अस् with उपसर्ग नि, causative sense not)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) from √न्यस्/नि+अस्: ‘having placed/dedicated’

• कुर्वन्: doing (while doing)
• कुर्वन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha/Concession (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि/समुच्चयार्थ

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• लिम्पति: is tainted/clings
• लिम्पति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (Nārāyaṇa) speaking to Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: By offering all actions to Nārāyaṇa (nyasya/arpayitvā) one is not tainted—action becomes non-binding.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga: īśvara-arpita-buddhi and prasāda-buddhi; non-doership and non-attachment reduce karmic bondage.

Application: Before tasks, mentally dedicate them to Nārāyaṇa; after results, accept as prasāda; reduce ego-claim and cultivate ethical intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: bhakti and offering as means to avoid bondage; emphasis on Viṣṇu as refuge

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Puruṣa (the individual)

FAQs

What is the importance of surrendering actions to Nārāyaṇa in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse teaches that dedicating all actions to Nārāyaṇa transforms one’s relationship to karma—actions are done as an offering rather than for egoic gain, reducing karmic taint and bondage.

How does this verse explain freedom from karmic bondage?

It states that when deeds are ‘placed in Nārāyaṇa’ (nyāsa/ārpaṇa-buddhi), the doer is not smeared by the act—emphasizing inner renunciation and devotional offering as the key to non-attachment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before and after any task, mentally offer it to Nārāyaṇa, drop the claim of personal ownership, and accept outcomes as prasad—this cultivates ethical action, humility, and reduced anxiety about results.