Shloka 9

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

सर्वे गुणैः शतगुणाः क्रमेणोक्ता नु ते ऽखिलाः / भारत्याश्च शतं ज्ञानं सुखं भक्तिबलाधिके

Transliteration

sarve guṇaiḥ śataguṇāḥ krameṇoktā nu te 'khilāḥ / bhāratyāśca śataṃ jñānaṃ sukhaṃ bhaktibalādhike

Translation

All these grades have been set forth in order as a hundredfold increase in qualities—have I explained them all to you? And know: for one endowed with the strength of devotion, knowledge and happiness are yet a hundredfold greater.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• गुणैः: by qualities / in terms of qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• शतगुणाः: hundredfold
• शतगुणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शतगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शतस्य गुणाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्रमेण: in sequence
• क्रमेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial instrumental): 'in order/gradually'

• उक्ताः: have been stated
• उक्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) 'उक्त'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'have been stated'

• नु: indeed?/then
• नु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न/निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन (enclitic 'te'); here: षष्ठी (genitive)

• अखिलाः: entire/all
• अखिलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; agrees with implied plural entities

• भारत्याः: of Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• भारत्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular

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

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; numeral used substantively

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भक्ति-बलाधिके: in (one) superior in devotion and strength
• भक्ति-बलाधिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (भक्तौ बले च अधिकः / भक्ति-बलयोः अधिकः); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative qualifier

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even after enumerating hundredfold gradations of qualities, bhakti-bala makes knowledge and happiness a further hundredfold greater.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as śakti that intensifies jñāna and ānanda; sādhana-sādhya escalation through divine dependence.

Application: Use devotion as the integrating force: pair study with worship and ethical living; treat happiness as a byproduct of devotion rather than an independent pursuit.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.8–12 (tāratamya and illustrative analogies)

Characters & Entities

• Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of bhakti (devotion) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse elevates devotion as a force that multiplies spiritual outcomes—knowledge and happiness become “a hundredfold” for one strong in bhakti.

How does this verse explain spiritual progression (krama) in the Garuda Purana?

It implies a graded, step-by-step hierarchy of virtues and merits, and then states that devotion surpasses these grades by yielding even greater knowledge and joy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate consistent devotion (prayer, remembrance, service) alongside study—this verse suggests bhakti strengthens understanding and inner well-being beyond mere intellectual learning.