Shloka 20

The Procedure of Worship (Śrīdharapūjā-vidhi)

Devanagari script

इं यः पठते ऽध्यायं विष्णुपूजाप्रकाशकम् / स विधूयेह पापानि याति विष्णोः परं पदम्

Transliteration

iṃ yaḥ paṭhate 'dhyāyaṃ viṣṇupūjāprakāśakam / sa vidhūyeha pāpāni yāti viṣṇoḥ paraṃ padam

Translation

Whoever recites this chapter that illuminates the worship of Viṣṇu, shakes off sins here itself and attains Viṣṇu’s supreme abode.

Word by Word

• इं: (particle) thus/now (textual marker)
• इं: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इम् (अव्यय/निपात; पाठ-आरम्भसूचक)
• Form: निपात (particle); अर्थः—‘इति/अथ’ इव पाठारम्भे

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• पठते: recites, reads
• पठते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अध्यायं: chapter
• अध्यायं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विष्णुपूजाप्रकाशकम्: revealing/explaining the worship of Viṣṇu
• विष्णुपूजाप्रकाशकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + पूजा + प्रकाशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण—अध्यायस्य; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासभावः (विष्णोः पूजायाः प्रकाशकः)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम

• विधूय: having removed, having shaken off
• विधूय: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); अर्थः—‘विधूय’ = ‘विधूत्वा’ (having shaken off/removed)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (here/in this world)

• पापानि: sins
• पापानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• परं: supreme, highest
• परं: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण—पदम्

• पदम्: abode, state
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa/pāṭha (devotional recitation) of Viṣṇu-worship teaching purifies pāpa in this very life and leads to the highest goal.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma/śāstra-śravaṇa as purifying; bhakti as a liberating means; pāpa-kṣaya as removal of obstacles to realization.

Application: Regularly recite/reflect on teachings of Viṣṇu worship; pair recitation with conduct aligned to devotion; use it as daily sādhana for inner cleansing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30.19 (great devotion leads to the supreme abode); Garuda Purana 1.31.2 (worship grants bhukti and mukti)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the importance of Viṣṇu-pūjā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the chapter revealing Viṣṇu-worship is itself purifying; devotion expressed through recitation and understanding of Viṣṇu-pūjā leads to pāpa-kṣaya and the highest spiritual goal.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It links inner purification (removal of pāpa) with the soul’s final destination—attaining Viṣṇu’s supreme abode—showing that devotion and sacred recitation support liberation rather than mere worldly merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly recite and reflect on teachings of Viṣṇu worship, align daily conduct with dharma, and treat devotional practices as ethical self-purification aimed at liberation.