Shloka 1

Devanagari script

नामाष्टत्रिंशो ऽध्यायः रुद्र उवाच / पुनर्देवार्चनं ब्रूहि संक्षेपेण जनार्दन / सूर्यस्य विष्णुरूपस्य भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्

Transliteration

nāmāṣṭatriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ rudra uvāca / punardevārcanaṃ brūhi saṃkṣepeṇa janārdana / sūryasya viṣṇurūpasya bhuktimuktipradāyakam

Translation

Chapter Thirty-Nine. Rudra said: “O Janārdana, tell again—briefly—the method of worship of the Devas, especially of Sūrya who is the form of Viṣṇu, the giver of both worldly enjoyment and liberation.”

Word by Word

• नाम: (the section called) ‘Name’ / naming
• नाम: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (शीर्षक-प्रयोगः)

• अष्ट-त्रिंशः: thirty-eighth
• अष्ट-त्रिंशः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + त्रिंशत् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्टत्रिंशत् = 38th); विशेषणम् (अध्यायः)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb)

• देव-अर्चनम्: worship of the gods
• देव-अर्चनम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् अर्चनम् = ‘worship of the gods’)

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Requested action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• संक्षेपेण: briefly
• संक्षेपेण: Karana (Manner/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (instrumental of manner)

• जनार्दन: O Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दन: Sambodhana (Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• सूर्यस्य: of the Sun
• सूर्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• विष्णु-रूपस्य: who has the form of Vishnu
• विष्णु-रूपस्य: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः रूपम् यस्य = ‘having the form of Vishnu’); विशेषणम् (सूर्यस्य)

• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदायकम्: granting enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदायकम्: Karma (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदायक (प्रातिपदिक; √दा धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वपूर्वक-तत्पुरुषः (भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च प्रददाति इति); विशेषणम् (देव-अर्चनम्/पूजनम्)

Speaker

Rudra (Shiva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upāsanā of Sūrya as Viṣṇu grants both worldly welfare (bhukti) and liberation (mukti).

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā leading toward mokṣa; unity of deities in the one supreme (Viṣṇu) through rūpa-bheda.

Application: Adopt a concise daily solar worship (arghya, mantra, dhyāna) with Viṣṇu-bhāva; align life goals with dharma and liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Sūrya-upāsanā and deva-pūjā procedures in adjacent chapters (contextual continuity)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Janardana (Vishnu)
• Surya
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of Surya worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Sūrya-upāsanā as worship of Viṣṇu’s very form, capable of granting both bhukti (worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation), making it a high-value practice for both householders and seekers.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it points to a twofold aim—right worship yields ordered life (bhukti) and supports the liberation-oriented path (mukti), suggesting devotion as a bridge from worldly duty to spiritual release.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a concise, consistent daily worship practice (especially Sūrya-focused devotion) with the intention of both ethical living and inner freedom—seeking prosperity without losing sight of moksha.