Shloka 29

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

आसां ज्ञानत्पुण्यमाप्नोति नित्यं सदा हरिः प्रीयते केशवोलम् / गङ्गादिभ्यो ह्यवराह्यग्निजाया स्वाहासंज्ञाधिगुणा नैव हीना

Transliteration

āsāṃ jñānatpuṇyamāpnoti nityaṃ sadā hariḥ prīyate keśavolam / gaṅgādibhyo hyavarāhyagnijāyā svāhāsaṃjñādhiguṇā naiva hīnā

Translation

Al conocer estas verdades, uno alcanza mérito continuamente, y Hari—Keshava—se complace siempre. En verdad, aunque se la tenga por «inferior» al Gaṅgā y a otros ríos sagrados, no carece en absoluto: pues es la consorte de Agni, célebre con el nombre Svāhā, y dotada de cualidades superiores.

Word by Word

• आसाम्: of these (fem.)
• आसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम्/तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (genitive pronoun)

• ज्ञात्वा/ज्ञानात्: by knowing
• ज्ञात्वा/ज्ञानात्: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: पाठभेद-सूचना: ‘ज्ञानात्’ इति तृतीया/पञ्चमी-प्रयोगः (ablatival/instrumental sense) ‘by/through knowing’; (यदि ‘ज्ञात्वा’ स्यात् तर्हि क्त्वान्त)

• पुण्यम्: merit
• पुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रीयते: is pleased
• प्रीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः ‘is pleased’

• केशव: Keśava
• केशव: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (हरि-समनाम)

• उलम्: (particle; unclear reading)
• उलम्: Vākyasaṃbandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उलम् (अव्यय/पाठदोष-सम्भावना)
• Form: पाठ-समस्या: ‘उलम्’ स्पष्टं न; सम्भवतः ‘उलम्/अलम्’ (enough/indeed) इति निपातः; यथापाठं अव्ययवत् गृहीतम्

• गङ्गा-आदिभ्यः: from Gaṅgā and others
• गङ्गा-आदिभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समूहवाचक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (ablative), बहुवचन; ‘from Gaṅgā and others’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Vākyasaṃbandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeed/for)

• अवरा: inferior/lesser
• अवरा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अग्नि-जाया: Agni’s wife
• अग्नि-जाया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + जाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘अग्नेः जाया’

• स्वाहा-संज्ञा-अधि-गुणा: named Svāhā and possessing superior qualities
• स्वाहा-संज्ञा-अधि-गुणा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासार्थः ‘स्वाहा-संज्ञा’ (named Svāhā) + ‘अधिगुणा’ (having superior qualities)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• हीना: deficient/inferior
• हीना: Pratijñā (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari is pleased by right knowledge and reverent recognition; sacred potency is not diminished by perceived rank—Svāhā (Agni’s consort) is ‘adhiguṇā’.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-prasāda through sattvic understanding; unity of sacred power across forms (tīrtha, devī, mantra).

Application: Practice non-disparagement in religion; honor mantra-śakti (svāhā) and ritual fire with the same reverence as pilgrimage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/mantra sphere (conceptual)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29.30 (Svāhā as mantra-form and progenitor of Budha); Garuda Purana 3.29.28 (tīrtha equality)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Keshava
• Ganga
• Agni
• Svaha

FAQs

What is the importance of gaining knowledge (jñāna) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse states that merely knowing these teachings yields continual merit (puṇya) and pleases Hari (Vishnu), emphasizing inner understanding as a direct spiritual practice.

Why does the verse mention Ganga and Svaha (Agni’s consort)?

It contrasts a well-known purifier (Ganga) with Svāhā—connected to fire-offerings—asserting that even if considered ‘secondary,’ Svāhā is not inferior because of her exalted identity and qualities.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study and remember the teaching with devotion to Vishnu, and perform offerings or prayers with the Svāhā-mantra mindfully—valuing sincere ritual intent and understanding over mere external comparisons.