Shloka 103

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

तद्भक्तवर्यान्पूजयस्वाद्य सम्यक् तत्पादमूले वन्दनं त्वं कुरुष्व / सुपञ्चम्यां मृन्मयीं शेषमूर्तिं पूजां कुरुष्व क्षीरलाजादिकैश्च

Transliteration

tadbhaktavaryānpūjayasvādya samyak tatpādamūle vandanaṃ tvaṃ kuruṣva / supañcamyāṃ mṛnmayīṃ śeṣamūrtiṃ pūjāṃ kuruṣva kṣīralājādikaiśca

Translation

Today duly honor the best among His devotees, and make your reverent salutation at the Lord’s feet. On the holy day of Supañcamī, worship an earthen image of Śeṣa, offering milk, lajā (parched grain), and the like.

Word by Word

• तत्: of him/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; used as first member in compound

• भक्तवर्यान्: the best devotees
• भक्तवर्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त + वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; तत्पुरुषः: भक्तानां वर्याः (best among devotees)

• पूजयस्व: worship
• पूजयस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular; Ātmanepada

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (रीतिवाचक-अव्यय)

• तत्: of him/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; used as first member in compound

• पादमूले: at the feet/base
• पादमूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: पादस्य मूलम् (at the base of the feet)

• वन्दनम्: salutation
• वन्दनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• कुरुष्व: do/perform
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular; Ātmanepada

• सुपञ्चम्याम्: on the auspicious fifth day
• सुपञ्चम्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + पञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘on the auspicious fifth (tithi)’

• मृन्मयीम्: made of clay
• मृन्मयीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृन्मयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adjective qualifying शेषमूर्तिम्

• शेषमूर्तिम्: the image of Śeṣa
• शेषमूर्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः: शेषस्य मूर्तिः (image of Śeṣa)

• पूजाम्: worship
• पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• कुरुष्व: perform
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular; Ātmanepada

• क्षीरलाजादिकैः: with milk, parched rice, etc.
• क्षीरलाजादिकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + लाज + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (collective), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुषः: क्षीरं लाजाः आदयः येषां तैः (with milk, parched rice, etc.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhakta-pūjā (honoring devotees) and pāda-vandana as direct devotional practice; accessible worship via mṛnmayī mūrti (earthen icon).

Vedantic Theme: Devotee as locus of grace; humility (namra-bhāva) as purifier; saguna-upāsanā using simple materials.

Application: Honor sincere practitioners; practice daily/periodic prostration; on auspicious days, perform simple, eco-friendly worship with readily available offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (home/temple)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.104 (feeding/naivedya sequence); Garuda Purana 3.28.101-102 (devotion and service)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shesha (Ananta)
• Bhaktas (devotees)

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring Vishnu’s devotees in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats bhakta-pūjā (honoring the Lord’s devotees) as a direct religious duty, paired with reverence at the Lord’s feet—implying that service to devotees and humble salutation are powerful means of gaining spiritual merit.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on post-death welfare?

In the Preta Kanda context, prescribed devotional rites and observances are presented as merit-producing actions (puṇya) that support auspicious destiny; here, devotion-based worship (bhakta-pūjā and Śeṣa-pūjā) is emphasized as a corrective, dharmic practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly show respect and care to sincere devotees/saints, offer heartfelt prayers with humility, and on Supañcamī perform a simple Śeṣa/Ananta worship (even with a small clay icon) with sattvic offerings like milk and puffed rice.