Shloka 17

Kula-amṛta: Śiva’s Teaching to Nārada on Viṣṇu-Dhyāna and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

संसारबन्धनामुक्तिमिच्छंल्लोको ह्यशेषतः / स्तुत्वैवं वरदं विष्णुं सदा ध्यायन्विमुच्यते

Transliteration

saṃsārabandhanāmuktimicchaṃlloko hyaśeṣataḥ / stutvaivaṃ varadaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyanvimucyate

Translation

Indeed, whoever longs for release from the bondage of saṃsāra—having thus praised Viṣṇu, the giver of boons—becomes free by constantly meditating on Him.

Word by Word

• संसारबन्धनात्: from the bondage of saṃsāra
• संसारबन्धनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संसारस्य बन्धनम्)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इच्छन्: desiring
• इच्छन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि

• लोकः: a person/people (the world)
• लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतौ

• अशेषतः: entirely, without remainder
• अशेषतः: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थे ‘-तः’

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), प्रकारवाचक

• वरदम्: boon-giving
• वरदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुम्)

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

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विमुच्यते: is liberated
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mumukṣu who praises Viṣṇu as Varada and then abides in constant meditation becomes free from saṃsāra.

Vedantic Theme: Mumukṣutva as a prerequisite; bhakti (stuti) ripening into steady dhyāna that dissolves bondage.

Application: Adopt a two-step sādhana: (1) daily stotra/namaskāra to awaken devotion, (2) follow with silent dhyāna; keep a written ‘saṃsāra-bandhana’ reflection to strengthen vairāgya.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.232.15-16, 1.232.18 (same mokṣa refrain and saṃsāra-bandhana motif)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of liberation (moksha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames moksha as freedom from saṃsāra-bandhana and presents devotion—praising Vishnu and steady meditation—as a direct means to that release.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than focusing on post-death routes here, it emphasizes the root solution: by fixing the mind on Vishnu through praise and dhyāna, one is freed from the cycle that drives repeated birth and death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily practice of stuti (recitation of hymns) and dhyāna (focused remembrance of Vishnu), aligning actions and intentions toward detachment from compulsive worldly binding.