Shloka 1

Devanagari script

नाम सप्तदसो ऽध्यायः श्रीकृष्ण उवाच / श्रवणानां वचः श्रुत्वा क्षणं ध्यात्वा पुनस्ततः / यत्कृतं तु मनुष्यैश्चपुण्यं पापमहर्निशम्

Transliteration

nāma saptadaso 'dhyāyaḥ śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca / śravaṇānāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā kṣaṇaṃ dhyātvā punastataḥ / yatkṛtaṃ tu manuṣyaiścapuṇyaṃ pāpamaharniśam

Translation

Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: Having heard the words of those who speak of what is to be heard, and reflecting again for a moment, one should consider what human beings do—merit and sin—day and night.

Word by Word

• नाम: (entitled)
• नाम: Discourse marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नामनिर्देशार्थक (marker: ‘named/called’)

• सप्तदशः: seventeenth
• सप्तदशः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तदश (संख्याशब्द)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (सप्त + दश), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अध्यायः इति विशेषणम्

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta/Topic (Heading)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रीकृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्रीकृष्णः: Karta (Speaker/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (श्रीमान् कृष्णः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• श्रवणानाम्: of Śravaṇa (the listener)/of the hearings
• श्रवणानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Karman (Extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• ध्यात्वा: having reflected/meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (adverb: again)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तस्मात्/अनन्तरम् (thereafter/from that)

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: Sambandha (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• कृतम्: done (deed)
• कृतम्: Karman/Topic
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; कृ + क्त)
• Form: PPP, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्म’ (what is done)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ

• मनुष्यैः: by humans
• मनुष्यैः: Karana (Agent/Doer in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karman/Topic
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karman/Topic
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अहर्निशम्: day and night
• अहर्निशम्: Adverbial (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहर्-निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास (अहः च निशा च → अहर्निशम्), अव्यय, कालवाचक (day and night)

Speaker

Śrī Kṛṣṇa (as narrator/speaker in the text)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After śravaṇa, one should reflect (manana) on the constant production of puṇya and pāpa by humans.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa followed by manana as a discipline of discernment; recognition of saṃsāric bondage through habitual action.

Application: Daily self-audit: review actions, speech, and intentions; strengthen puṇya-producing habits and reduce pāpa-producing patterns through mindful restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: teaching assembly (kathā-sabhā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.17.25–26 (śravaṇa-phala leading into reflection); Garuda Purana Pretakalpa karmic accounting themes (general)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Manuṣya (human beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of puṇya and pāpa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the teaching that humans continuously generate merit and sin through their actions, which become central factors in post-death consequences described later in the Garuda Purana.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By emphasizing constant accumulation of puṇya and pāpa, the verse prepares the listener for the Purana’s afterlife narrative where the soul’s journey and experiences are shaped by these deeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Listen to wise counsel, pause to reflect, and consciously choose actions that build puṇya and avoid pāpa in daily life—since conduct is portrayed as an ongoing (day-and-night) moral account.