Shloka 14

The Procedure of Worship (Śrīdharapūjā-vidhi)

Devanagari script

परब्रह्मस्वरूपं च श्रीधरं चिन्तयेत्सुधीः / अनेन चैव स्तोत्रेण स्तुवीत परमेश्वरम्

Transliteration

parabrahmasvarūpaṃ ca śrīdharaṃ cintayetsudhīḥ / anena caiva stotreṇa stuvīta parameśvaram

Translation

The wise should contemplate Śrīdhara as the very form of the Supreme Brahman; and with this same hymn should praise the Supreme Lord (Parameśvara).

Word by Word

• परब्रह्मस्वरूपम्: the form/nature of the Supreme Brahman
• परब्रह्मस्वरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परब्रह्मणः स्वरूपम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• श्रीधरम्: Śrīdhara (Vishnu)
• श्रीधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चिन्तयेत्: should meditate/think upon
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सुधीः: the wise person
• सुधीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनेन: by/with this
• अनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• स्तोत्रेण: with the hymn
• स्तोत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• स्तुवीत: should praise
• स्तुवीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (परमः ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplate Śrīdhara as Parabrahman and praise Him through stotra as a direct means of God-realization.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana leading toward nirguna-brahma-jñāna; identity of Bhagavān with Parabrahman.

Application: Daily dhyāna on Śrīdhara’s form and recitation of the hymn with focused mind, treating stuti as sādhana rather than mere praise.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30.15-18 (continuation of the stotra/namaskāra sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Parabrahman
• Shridhara
• Parameshvara

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on Śrīdhara as Parabrahman in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that Viṣṇu (Śrīdhara) is to be contemplated as the Supreme Brahman itself, making devotion (bhakti) and contemplation a direct means toward spiritual liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing meditation and praise of the Supreme Lord, it points to inner purification and God-centered remembrance as the sustaining spiritual practice that supports the soul’s higher destiny beyond mere ritual.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly meditate on Viṣṇu as the highest reality and recite a suitable stotra with understanding—using devotion to cultivate steadiness, ethics, and detachment.