Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

हरिर्व्यासस्त्वेक एव व्यासस्तु हरिवत्स्मृतः / उपजीव्यतदीशत्वे तयोरेव न संशयः

Transliteration

harirvyāsastveka eva vyāsastu harivatsmṛtaḥ / upajīvyatadīśatve tayoreva na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Hari and Vyāsa are, in truth, one and the same; and Vyāsa is remembered as being like Hari. Concerning the relation of the dependent and the Lord, there is no doubt—this applies to them alone.

Word by Word

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• व्यासः: Vyasa
• व्यासः: Predicate nominative (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast particle)

• एकः: one
• एकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphasis)

• व्यासः: Vyasa
• व्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast particle)

• हरिवत्: like Hari
• हरिवत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हरि + वत् (तद्धित/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (adverbial: ‘like Hari’)

• स्मृतः: is regarded
• स्मृतः: Predicate adjective (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘remembered/considered’

• उपजीव्यतदीशत्वे: in (the matter of) lordship over the dependables
• उपजीव्यतदीशत्वे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपजीव्य + तद् + ईशत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; समासः—(उपजीव्यस्य तद्-ईशत्वे) इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sense: ‘in the lordship regarding what is to be depended on’)

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (Gen/Loc), द्विवचन; ‘of/in the two’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphasis)

• न: no/not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta (narrator) or the Purana’s voice praising Vyasa and Hari (contextual encomium within Garuda Purana narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari and Vyasa are essentially one; the relation of upajīvya (supported/dependent) and īśa (Lord) is uniquely resolved here.

Vedantic Theme: Abheda (non-difference) with functional bheda (role-distinction) in īśa–jīva/āśraya–āśrita framing.

Application: Treat the Vyasa-tradition (scripture, guru-parampara) as divine authority; cultivate humility as dependent while honoring the Lordship principle.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.86-89 (hierarchy of salutation; limbs/instruments of Hari)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Vyasa

FAQs

What is the importance of equating Hari and Vyasa in the Garuda Purana?

It establishes the Purana’s authority by declaring the compiler (Vyāsa) as non-different from Hari, making the teaching trustworthy and spiritually potent.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s path and afterlife teachings in the Garuda Purana?

By grounding the text’s source in Hari/Vyāsa, it legitimizes the later instructions on death rites, karma, and the post-death journey as divinely reliable guidance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach Garuda Purana teachings with reverence and discernment, treating them as a dharmic guide—especially when performing śrāddha, pinda-dāna, and ethical self-discipline.