Shloka 38

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्तिमार्गेण न पूजयन्ति ह्यापत्काले परदैवं तदन्यम् / ते वैष्णवा वैष्णवदासभृत्या अन्ये च सर्वे ऽवैष्णवमात्रकाः स्मृताः

Transliteration

pravṛttimārgeṇa na pūjayanti hyāpatkāle paradaivaṃ tadanyam / te vaiṣṇavā vaiṣṇavadāsabhṛtyā anye ca sarve 'vaiṣṇavamātrakāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

Quienes, aun viviendo por la senda de la vida activa (pravṛtti), no adoran a ninguna otra deidad como suprema—especialmente en tiempos de aflicción—son conocidos como vaiṣṇavas, junto con quienes sirven a los servidores de los vaiṣṇavas. A todos los demás se les recuerda como meros no‑vaiṣṇavas.

Word by Word

• pravṛtti-mārgeṇa: by the path of worldly activity
• pravṛtti-mārgeṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravṛtti (प्रवृत्ति प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (मार्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'pravṛtteḥ mārgeṇa'

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• pūjayanti: they worship
• pūjayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• āpat-kāle: in time of calamity
• āpat-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpat (आपत् प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (काल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'āpataḥ kāle'

• para-daivam: another deity
• para-daivam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (पर प्रातिपदिक) + daiva (दैव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'paraṃ daivam'

• tad: that
• tad: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• anyam: other
• anyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier) para-daivam-शब्दस्य

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (वैष्णव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• vaiṣṇava-dāsa-bhṛtyāḥ: servants of Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇava-dāsa-bhṛtyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + dāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (अन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• avaiṣṇava-mātrakāḥ: mere non-Vaiṣṇavas
• avaiṣṇava-mātrakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + vaiṣṇava (वैष्णव प्रातिपदिक) + mātraka (मात्रक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः: 'avaiṣṇava' + 'mātraka' (mere non-Vaiṣṇavas)

• smṛtāḥ: are regarded (as)
• smṛtāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'are considered/are called'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even while engaged in worldly duties, one should not treat any other deity as supreme, especially in distress; such persons (and those serving Vaiṣṇavas) are Vaiṣṇavas.

Vedantic Theme: Ananya-śaraṇatā (exclusive surrender) to Hari; bhakti integrated with pravṛtti rather than requiring withdrawal.

Application: In crises, avoid spiritual opportunism; keep primary allegiance to Viṣṇu while respecting others—serve devotees and communities centered on Viṣṇu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: householder/worldly life setting (pravṛtti-mārga)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.37 (Vaiṣṇava conduct and true namaskāra); Garuda Purana 3.1.39 (texts that lead solely to Hari)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaishnavas

FAQs

What is the importance of exclusive devotion to Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines a Vaiṣṇava as one who does not treat any other deity as the supreme refuge, even during calamity, emphasizing steadfast bhakti as a core spiritual marker.

How does this verse explain spiritual identity (Vaiṣṇava vs. non‑Vaiṣṇava)?

It draws a clear boundary: those devoted to Viṣṇu as the highest, and those who serve His devotees, are called Vaiṣṇavas; everyone else is classified as avaiṣṇava in this doctrinal sense.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a consistent spiritual center during crises, and cultivate humility by serving sincere devotees—letting practice, loyalty, and character remain steady under pressure.