Shloka 110

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

मह्यमच्छिन्नभक्ताय दयां कुरु महाप्रभो / इति स्तुत्वा हरिं ब्रह्मा स्थितः प्राञ्ज लिरग्रतः

Transliteration

mahyamacchinnabhaktāya dayāṃ kuru mahāprabho / iti stutvā hariṃ brahmā sthitaḥ prāñja liragrataḥ

Translation

«Ten compasión de mí, oh gran Señor, pues soy un devoto cuya bhakti no se interrumpe». Habiendo así alabado a Hari, Brahmā permaneció ante Él con las manos juntas en reverencia.

Word by Word

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• अच्छिन्न-भक्ताय: to (me), the unwavering devotee
• अच्छिन्न-भक्ताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + छिन्न (छिद्-धातु, क्त) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘to the unbroken devotee’ (i.e., one whose devotion is unbroken)

• दयाम्: compassion; mercy
• दयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• कुरु: do; show
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• महाप्रभो: O great lord
• महाप्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यर्थक-अव्यय)

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal form (अव्ययकृदन्त)

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• स्थितः: stood; remained
• स्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘stood/remained’

• प्राञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• प्राञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; adjective of Brahmā: ‘with joined palms’

• अग्रतः: in front; before
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

Speaker

Brahmā (addressing Lord Hari/Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Acchinna-bhakti (unbroken devotion) is presented as the ground for receiving divine dayā (compassion/grace).

Vedantic Theme: Anugraha as the catalyst for spiritual fruition; bhakti as continuity of consciousness toward the Supreme.

Application: Adopt prāñjali-bhāva (humble reverence), cultivate steady devotion, and explicitly ask for grace in prayer/meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.12.109 (unbroken awareness and dependence); Garuda Purana 3.13.1 (the Lord responds after being praised)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of unbroken devotion (acchinna-bhakti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents continuous devotion as a direct basis for seeking divine compassion—Bhagavān’s grace is invoked not by mere status, but by steady, uninterrupted bhakti.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing after-death stages directly, it frames the spiritual path as surrender and prayer to Hari—devotion and humility are portrayed as the means to receive guidance and protection.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent daily devotion (prayer, japa, remembrance) and cultivate humility—approach the Divine with sincerity and folded hands, seeking compassion rather than entitlement.