Shloka 38

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्तिमार्गेण न पूजयन्ति ह्यापत्काले परदैवं तदन्यम् / ते वैष्णवा वैष्णवदासभृत्या अन्ये च सर्वे ऽवैष्णवमात्रकाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

pravṛttimārgeṇa na pūjayanti hyāpatkāle paradaivaṃ tadanyam / te vaiṣṇavā vaiṣṇavadāsabhṛtyā anye ca sarve 'vaiṣṇavamātrakāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

Those who, even while living the life of worldly engagement (pravṛtti), do not worship any other deity as supreme—especially in times of distress—are known as Vaiṣṇavas, along with those who serve the servants of Vaiṣṇavas. All others are remembered as merely non‑Vaiṣṇavas.

Word by Word

• pravṛtti-mārgeṇa: by the path of worldly activity
• pravṛtti-mārgeṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravṛtti (प्रवृत्ति प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (मार्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'pravṛtteḥ mārgeṇa'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• pūjayanti: they worship
• pūjayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• āpat-kāle: in time of calamity
• āpat-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpat (आपत् प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (काल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'āpataḥ kāle'

• para-daivam: another deity
• para-daivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (पर प्रातिपदिक) + daiva (दैव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'paraṃ daivam'

• tad: that
• tad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• anyam: other
• anyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) para-daivam-शब्दस्य

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (वैष्णव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vaiṣṇava-dāsa-bhṛtyāḥ: servants of Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇava-dāsa-bhṛtyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + dāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• avaiṣṇava-mātrakāḥ: mere non-Vaiṣṇavas
• avaiṣṇava-mātrakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + vaiṣṇava (वैष्णव प्रातिपदिक) + mātraka (मात्रक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः: 'avaiṣṇava' + 'mātraka' (mere non-Vaiṣṇavas)

• smṛtāḥ: are regarded (as)
• smṛtāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'are considered/are called'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even while engaged in worldly duties, one should not treat any other deity as supreme, especially in distress; such persons (and those serving Vaiṣṇavas) are Vaiṣṇavas.

Vedantic Theme: Ananya-śaraṇatā (exclusive surrender) to Hari; bhakti integrated with pravṛtti rather than requiring withdrawal.

Application: In crises, avoid spiritual opportunism; keep primary allegiance to Viṣṇu while respecting others—serve devotees and communities centered on Viṣṇu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: householder/worldly life setting (pravṛtti-mārga)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.37 (Vaiṣṇava conduct and true namaskāra); Garuda Purana 3.1.39 (texts that lead solely to Hari)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaishnavas

FAQs

What is the importance of exclusive devotion to Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines a Vaiṣṇava as one who does not treat any other deity as the supreme refuge, even during calamity, emphasizing steadfast bhakti as a core spiritual marker.

How does this verse explain spiritual identity (Vaiṣṇava vs. non‑Vaiṣṇava)?

It draws a clear boundary: those devoted to Viṣṇu as the highest, and those who serve His devotees, are called Vaiṣṇavas; everyone else is classified as avaiṣṇava in this doctrinal sense.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a consistent spiritual center during crises, and cultivate humility by serving sincere devotees—letting practice, loyalty, and character remain steady under pressure.