Shloka 19

Pretaśilā at Gayā: Muṇḍapṛṣṭha, Gadādhara’s Manifestation, and the Fruits of Śrāddha & Deity-Worship

Devanagari script

जगन्नाथं ये ऽप्चयन्ति सुभद्रां बलभद्रकम् / ज्ञानं प्राप्य श्रियं पुत्रान्व्रजन्ति पुरुषोत्तमम्

Transliteration

jagannāthaṃ ye 'pcayanti subhadrāṃ balabhadrakam / jñānaṃ prāpya śriyaṃ putrānvrajanti puruṣottamam

Translation

Those who worship Jagannātha—together with Subhadrā and Balabhadra—attain true knowledge, prosperity, and worthy sons, and ultimately reach Puruṣottama (the Supreme Lord).

Word by Word

• जगन्नाथम्: Lord of the universe (Jagannātha)
• जगन्नाथम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जगतः नाथः)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• अप्‍चयन्ति: worship
• अप्‍चयन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; पाठभेद: ‘अर्चयन्ति’

• सुभद्राम्: Subhadrā
• सुभद्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बलभद्रकम्: Balabhadra
• बलभद्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलभद्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्राप्य: having attained
• प्राप्य: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having obtained’

• श्रियम्: prosperity, fortune
• श्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• व्रजन्ति: go, proceed
• व्रजन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Puruṣottama (the Supreme Person)
• पुरुषोत्तमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (उत्तमः पुरुषः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship of Jagannātha (with Subhadrā and Balabhadra) grants jñāna, śrī (prosperity), putra (worthy progeny), and culminates in reaching the Supreme Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as a direct means that ripens into jñāna and culminates in Bhagavat-prāpti.

Application: Establish regular worship/remembering of Vishnu/Jagannātha; align prosperity and family life with devotion and ethical conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/pilgrimage center; ultimate divine abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising Vishnu-nāma, tīrtha, and bhakti as liberating; Garuda Purana: Purushottama-kṣetra māhātmya traditions (where present in recensions)

Characters & Entities

• Jagannatha
• Subhadra
• Balabhadra
• Purushottama

FAQs

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

This verse presents Jagannātha worship (with Subhadrā and Balabhadra) as a direct means to gain spiritual knowledge, worldly auspiciousness, and finally reach the Supreme Lord (Puruṣottama).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It frames devotion (upāsanā/bhakti) as transformative: it yields jñāna (right spiritual understanding) and culminates in reaching Puruṣottama—indicating liberation-oriented destiny rather than post-death wandering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular devotional practice—worship, remembrance, and ethical living aligned with that devotion—treating spiritual knowledge as the highest fruit, with material wellbeing as secondary.