Shloka 40

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

सद्ब्राह्मणान्वन्दयेत्पादमूले हस्तौ च द्वौ संपुटीकृत्य देवि / साष्टाङ्गरुपं वन्दनं चैव विष्णोः कुर्यात्तथा गुरवे विष्णुबुद्ध्या

Transliteration

sadbrāhmaṇānvandayetpādamūle hastau ca dvau saṃpuṭīkṛtya devi / sāṣṭāṅgarupaṃ vandanaṃ caiva viṣṇoḥ kuryāttathā gurave viṣṇubuddhyā

Translation

O Devi, one should bow to virtuous Brahmanas at their feet, joining both hands in reverence. One should also perform the prostration of eight limbs (sāṣṭāṅga) to Lord Viṣṇu, and likewise bow to one’s Guru, regarding him with the understanding that he is Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• sat-brāhmaṇān: good brāhmaṇas
• sat-brāhmaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat+brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural; समास: sat-brāhmaṇa (कर्मधारय ‘good/virtuous brāhmaṇas’)

• vandayet: should salute
• vandayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vand (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ-lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• pāda-mūle: at the feet
• pāda-mūle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda+mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular; समास: pāda-mūla (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘at the base of the feet’)

• hastau: hands
• hastau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual (द्विवचन)

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

• dvau: two
• dvau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Dual; numeral adjective qualifying hastau

• saṃpuṭīkṛtya: having cupped/joined (the hands)
• saṃpuṭīkṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃpuṭī-kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having joined/closed (the hands) in a hollow/añjali-like cup’

• devi: O देवी
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Vocative, Singular

• sa-aṣṭāṅga-rūpam: in the form of prostration with eight limbs
• sa-aṣṭāṅga-rūpam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa+aṣṭāṅga+rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; समास: sa-aṣṭāṅga (अव्ययीभाव/उपपद ‘with eight limbs’) + rūpa (तत्पुरुष ‘having the form of’)

• vandanam: salutation
• vandanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

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

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhiliṅ-lakāra (Optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीतिवाचक अव्यय) ‘thus/likewise’

• gurave: to the guru
• gurave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4), Singular

• viṣṇu-buddhyā: with the understanding (of him) as Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-buddhyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu+buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular; समास: viṣṇu-buddhi (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘understanding/thought of Viṣṇu’, i.e., ‘with the attitude that (he is) Viṣṇu’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction, addressed to Devi/consort in the verse-form transmission)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aṣṭāṅga praṇāma to Viṣṇu and reverence to guru with Viṣṇu-buddhi; honoring sādhus/brāhmaṇas as part of devotional life.

Vedantic Theme: Guru as manifest conduit of īśvara-jñāna; īśvara-bhāva in guru (not identity in egoic sense, but sacred representation).

Application: Practice respectful greetings (añjali, bowing) to teachers and elders; cultivate gratitude and humility; keep devotion centered on Viṣṇu while honoring the guru as spiritual guide.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.41 (salutations to tulasī, rivers, etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Guru
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring Brahmanas and the Guru in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames reverence to virtuous Brahmanas and the Guru as a core dharmic discipline, aligning one’s conduct with Vishnu-bhakti and spiritual merit (puṇya).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on the soul’s journey and after-death rites?

The Preta Kanda repeatedly emphasizes dharmic living and correct ritual disposition; honoring Brahmanas (often recipients/performers of śrāddha rites) and viewing the Guru as Vishnu supports proper performance and sanctity of rites connected to post-death welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain humility and reverence: offer respectful añjali and pranam to learned, ethical teachers and elders, and treat one’s spiritual guide with devotion and integrity, avoiding hypocrisy while practicing worship and ritual.