Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

अल्पान्युपपुराणानि वदन्त्यष्टादशानि च / विष्णुधर्मोतरं चैव तन्त्रं भागवतं तथा

Transliteration

alpānyupapurāṇāni vadantyaṣṭādaśāni ca / viṣṇudharmotaraṃ caiva tantraṃ bhāgavataṃ tathā

Translation

They say the minor Purāṇas (Upapurāṇas) are few, and that they are eighteen in number—such as the Viṣṇudharmottara, the Tantra, and the Bhāgavata as well.

Word by Word

• अल्पानि: few, minor
• अल्पानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• उपपुराणानि: Upa-Purāṇas (minor Purāṇas)
• उपपुराणानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपसर्गपूर्वक-समास (minor/secondary Purāṇas)

• वदन्ति: they say/declare
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अष्टादशानि: eighteen (in number)
• अष्टादशानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादशन् (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विष्णुधर्मोत्तरम्: Viṣṇu-dharmottara (text)
• विष्णुधर्मोत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + धर्म + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (name of a text)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तन्त्रम्: Tantra (treatise)
• तन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• भागवतम्: Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)
• भागवतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ग्रन्थनाम

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognition and enumeration of Upapurāṇas as a structured body of secondary Purāṇic literature.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-pramāṇa and the layered scriptural ecosystem (primary/secondary texts) supporting dharma and bhakti.

Application: Use as a guide for curriculum: identify Upapurāṇas (e.g., Viṣṇudharmottara, Tantra, Bhāgavata) and approach them with awareness of genre and purpose.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.58-59 (continuation listing and guṇa assessment)

Characters & Entities

• Upapurāṇas
• Viṣṇudharmottara
• Tantra
• Bhāgavata

FAQs

What is the importance of the Upapurāṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the Garuda Purana recognizes a structured body of subsidiary Purāṇic literature (traditionally counted as eighteen), useful for organizing dharma teachings and related traditions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by pointing to authoritative supporting texts (Upapurāṇas like Bhāgavata and others), it frames the Garuda Purana’s afterlife teachings as part of a wider scriptural ecosystem rather than an isolated account.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this verse as a guide to consult aligned supporting sources—Purāṇic and tantric manuals—when studying or performing dharma-based practices, ensuring one’s understanding is grounded in recognized textual traditions.