Shloka 50

Devanagari script

आदरेण सदा स्तौति धनवन्तं धनेच्छया / तथा विश्वस्य कर्तारं को न मुच्येत बन्धनात्

Transliteration

ādareṇa sadā stauti dhanavantaṃ dhanecchayā / tathā viśvasya kartāraṃ ko na mucyeta bandhanāt

Translation

If one, desiring wealth, always praises a wealthy man with deference, then by praising with reverence the Creator of the universe—who would not be released from bondage?

Word by Word

• ādareṇa: with respect
• ādareṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: 'always')

• stauti: praises
• stauti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• dhanavantam: a wealthy person
• dhanavantam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanavant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• dhanecchayā: out of desire for wealth
• dhanecchayā: Hetu/Karana (Cause/Instrument/हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'धनस्य इच्छा'

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: 'likewise')

• viśvasya: of the universe
• viśvasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• kartāram: the creator
• kartāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + tṛ (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) → kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्तृ-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kaḥ: who
• kaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• mucyeta: would be freed
• mucyeta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग-सम्भाव्य (passive sense: 'be released')

• bandhanāt: from bondage
• bandhanāt: Apādāna (Source/Separation/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: If reverent praise is offered for petty gain, then reverent praise of the universe’s Creator surely leads to release from bondage.

Vedantic Theme: Bandha (saṃsāra) is loosened by īśvara-bhakti and stuti; reorientation of desire from artha to paramārtha.

Application: Replace transactional flattery with daily īśvara-stuti (nāma, kīrtana, stotra); examine motives and elevate them toward devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on nāma/stuti as sin-destroying and liberating (theme-level parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Creator (Kartā)

FAQs

What is the importance of praising the Creator in the Garuda Purana?

This verse argues by comparison: if worldly praise is done to gain material benefit, sincere reverent praise of the Universe’s Creator is even more potent—leading toward release from saṃsāric bondage.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames liberation (mucyeta bandhanāt) as attainable through devotion and right orientation of speech and intent—turning from transactional praise of humans to reverent praise of the divine source.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Replace flattery driven by gain with daily sincere remembrance, prayer, and ethical living aligned to dharma—cultivating devotion that loosens attachment and karmic binding.