Shloka 36

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वपुण्ड्रगदाहीना नार्यसारेति गीयते / हरिभक्तिविहीना ये ह्यसुराः परिकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

ūrdhvapuṇḍragadāhīnā nāryasāreti gīyate / haribhaktivihīnā ye hyasurāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Translation

A woman who lacks the Vaiṣṇava ūrdhva-puṇḍra and the sacred marks of devotion is sung of as “without true essence.” Those who are devoid of bhakti to Hari are indeed proclaimed to be asuras.

Word by Word

• ūrdhvapuṇḍragadāhīnā: Bereft of Urdhvapundra (tilak) and Gada (mark)
• ūrdhvapuṇḍragadāhīnā: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhvapuṇḍragadāhīnā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nārī: Woman
• nārī: Karma (Object/कर्म) in Passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• asārā: Essence-less / Worthless
• asārā: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• iti: Thus
• iti: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• gīyate: Is sung / declared
• gīyate: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gai (धातु)
• Form: Passive, Present Tense, 3rd Person, Singular

• haribhaktivihīnāḥ: Bereft of devotion to Hari
• haribhaktivihīnāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: haribhaktivihīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ye: Those who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Relative Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• hi: Indeed
• hi: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• asurāḥ: Demons
• asurāḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म) in Passive context
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• parikīrtitāḥ: Are proclaimed
• parikīrtitāḥ: Kriya-Visheshana or Predicate
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parikīrtita (kṛt-pratyaya)
• Form: Past Passive Participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari-bhakti as the defining ‘sāra’ (essence); external and internal devotion are valued, and absence of devotion is equated with asuric disposition.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as a purifying orientation of antaḥkaraṇa; daivī vs. āsurī sampad (ethical-spiritual disposition).

Application: Cultivate daily Hari-smaraṇa and devotional conduct; if adopting ūrdhva-puṇḍra, pair it with sincere practice (japa, pūjā, sat-saṅga) rather than mere display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: social-religious space (household/temple)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.14 (sāra/niḥsāra taxonomy applied to persons and practices)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Asuras
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Hari-bhakti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames devotion to Hari as a defining spiritual quality; absence of Hari-bhakti is described as ‘asuric’—a mindset opposed to dharma and divine alignment.

What does this verse imply about ūrdhva-puṇḍra (Vaiṣṇava tilaka)?

It treats ūrdhva-puṇḍra and associated sacred marks as outward indicators of inner Vaiṣṇava orientation; without that devotional identity, a person is said to lack ‘sāra’ (spiritual substance).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion (bhakti) through remembrance, worship, and ethical conduct; use external practices like tilaka as supportive disciplines, not as substitutes for genuine devotion.