Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

तथा शिलादिरूपश्च श्रेष्ठश्चैव गदाधरः / तस्मिन्दृष्टे शिला दृष्टा यतः सर्वं गदाधरः

Transliteration

tathā śilādirūpaśca śreṣṭhaścaiva gadādharaḥ / tasmindṛṣṭe śilā dṛṣṭā yataḥ sarvaṃ gadādharaḥ

Translation

Likewise, the Supreme Lord—Gadādhara—appears in forms such as a sacred stone, and He alone is the Highest. When He is beheld, that stone too is truly beheld, for in truth everything is Gadādhara.

Word by Word

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/तुलना (thus, likewise)

• शिलादिरूपः: one whose form is stone etc.
• शिलादिरूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिलादिरूप (प्रातिपदिक; शिला + आदि + रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिला-आदि-रूपः = having the form of stone etc.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• श्रेष्ठः: excellent, best
• श्रेष्ठः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• गदाधरः: Gadādhara
• गदाधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदाधर (प्रातिपदिक; गदा + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्मिन्: in that (place/thing)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्टे: upon being seen
• दृष्टे: Sati-saptami (Locative absolute/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त; सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative absolute) नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; ‘when (it) is seen’

• शिला: stone
• शिला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• दृष्टा: is seen
• दृष्टा: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (predicate)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक (because/for)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गदाधरः: is Gadādhara
• गदाधरः: Samanaadhikarana (Predicate/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदाधर (प्रातिपदिक; गदा + धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-समानााधिकरण (predicate nominative)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Gadādhara) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord can be worshipped as sacred stone-form; seeing Him is true seeing, because all is pervaded by Gadādhara.

Vedantic Theme: Immanence of Brahman/Īśvara (sarvaṃ viṣṇumayam); saguna-upāsanā leading toward non-dual insight.

Application: Use a concrete devotional focus (mūrti/śālagrāma) for daily worship while cultivating the contemplative view that the Divine pervades all beings and situations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha-shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.86.39 (Gayā-mahātmya context); Garuda Purana 1.86.37 (worship yields aims)

Characters & Entities

• Gadādhara
• Viṣṇu
• Śilā (sacred stone/śālagrāma concept)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping the Lord in śilā (sacred stone) form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse affirms that the Supreme Lord can be approached in śilā-like forms; seeing and honoring that form is treated as truly seeing the Lord, because His presence is not limited by material appearance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By teaching an all-pervading vision of Gadādhara, it directs the mind toward constant remembrance and devotion—inner orientation that supports liberation (mokṣa) beyond fear of death and afterlife states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate reverence in daily worship (darśana) and train perception to see the divine in sacred symbols and in life—reducing ego and strengthening dharma through steady bhakti.