Shloka 11

Devanagari script

स्तुतिस्मरणपूजादिवाङ्मनः कायकर्मभिः / अनिश्चला हरौ भक्तिरेतदीश्वरचिन्तनम् / आसनं स्वस्तिकं प्रोक्तं पद्ममर्धासनं तथा

Transliteration

stutismaraṇapūjādivāṅmanaḥ kāyakarmabhiḥ / aniścalā harau bhaktiretadīśvaracintanam / āsanaṃ svastikaṃ proktaṃ padmamardhāsanaṃ tathā

Translation

By deeds of speech, mind, and body—such as praise, remembrance, and worship—steadfast devotion to Hari is called contemplation of the Lord. For this, the taught postures are the Svastika seat, the Padma (lotus) seat, and likewise the half-seat (Ardhāsana).

Word by Word

• स्तुति: praise
• स्तुति: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member)

• स्मरण: remembrance
• स्मरण: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member)

• आदि: and the like
• आदि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ/आद्यार्थ (etc.)

• वाक्: speech
• वाक्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member)

• कायकर्मभिः: by bodily actions
• कायकर्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार-द्वन्द्व), तृतीया, बहुवचन; करण (by means of body and actions)

• अनिश्चला: unwavering
• अनिश्चला: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (भक्तिः)

• हरौ: in/unto Hari
• हरौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (in/unto Hari)

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (as topic)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ईश्वरचिन्तनम्: contemplation of the Lord
• ईश्वरचिन्तनम्: Pradhana (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ईश्वरस्य चिन्तनम्)

• आसनम्: posture/seat
• आसनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वस्तिकम्: svastika posture
• स्वस्तिकम्: Pradhana (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आसन-विशेष

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (is said)

• पद्मम्: lotus posture
• पद्मम्: Pradhana (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आसन-विशेष

• अर्धासनम्: half-posture
• अर्धासनम्: Pradhana (Predicate-noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (अर्धं आसनम्)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थ (also/likewise)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Unwavering devotion to Hari expressed through vāk-manas-kāya (speech-mind-body) becomes īśvara-cintana; bodily posture supports contemplative stability.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā (devotional contemplation) as a means to citta-śuddhi and ekāgratā, preparing for higher knowledge; integration of karma (acts) into bhakti.

Application: Adopt a stable seat (svastika/padma/ardhāsana), then practice daily praise (stuti), remembrance (smaraṇa), and pūjā with mindful alignment of speech, mind, and body.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma-khaṇḍa) yoga/upāsanā passages around 1.238–1.239 on āsana, prāṇāyāma, and tattva-vicāra

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Īśvara

FAQs

What is the importance of īśvara-cintana (contemplation of God) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines īśvara-cintana as unwavering devotion to Hari expressed through speech, mind, and bodily actions like praise, remembrance, and worship—making devotion a complete, integrated practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing steady devotion and disciplined practice, it points to inner purification and mental stability—foundational qualities in the Purana’s broader teaching for spiritual progress and right conduct (ācāra).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Build a daily routine of stuti (recitation), smaraṇa (mindful remembrance), and pūjā (simple worship), and sit in a stable posture (svastika/padma/half-seat) to keep attention steady during prayer or japa.