Shloka 28

Devanagari script

सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति संपूज्य पुरुषोत्तमम् / नारायणं तु संपूज्य नराणामधिपो भवेत्

Transliteration

sarvānkāmānavāpnoti saṃpūjya puruṣottamam / nārāyaṇaṃ tu saṃpūjya narāṇāmadhipo bhavet

Translation

By reverently worshipping the Supreme Person (Puruṣottama), one attains all desired aims. And by worshipping Nārāyaṇa, one becomes a lord among men.

Word by Word

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कामान्)

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• अवाप्नोति: obtains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• संपूज्य: having worshipped
• संपूज्य: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having worshipped’

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

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• संपूज्य: having worshipped
• संपूज्य: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+पूज् (धातु)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having worshipped’

• नराणाम्: of men
• नराणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अधिपः: lord
• अधिपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• भवेत्: may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa) speaking to Garuda (Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship of Puruṣottama grants all desired aims; worship of Nārāyaṇa confers leadership and eminence among people.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavān as sarva-kāraṇa and sarva-phala-dātā; alignment of human pursuits (puruṣārthas) under divine sovereignty.

Application: Channel ambitions through ethical devotion: daily nārāyaṇa-smaraṇa, pūjā, and service; seek leadership as stewardship rather than ego.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temple/arcana-context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.86 (series of deity-names with specific phala)

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣottama
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Puruṣottama in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that wholehearted worship of Puruṣottama grants the fulfillment of one’s aims (kāmān), presenting devotion as a direct spiritual means with tangible results.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing post-death travel explicitly, it emphasizes bhakti to Nārāyaṇa as a dharmic foundation—devotion that supports auspicious outcomes in life and strengthens one’s spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular Nārāyaṇa/Vishnu worship (pujā, nāma-japa, stotra, or service) with sincerity; align desires with dharma, and cultivate leadership through humility and devotion.