Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 26

Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā

Devanagari script

सर्वं व्यर्थं वैष्णवानां च दीक्षा कथां विना सम्यगनुष्ठितां वै / यैर्न श्रुतं भागवतं पुराणं ससंप्रदायैर्गुरुभिः संयुतैश्च

Transliteration

sarvaṃ vyarthaṃ vaiṣṇavānāṃ ca dīkṣā kathāṃ vinā samyaganuṣṭhitāṃ vai / yairna śrutaṃ bhāgavataṃ purāṇaṃ sasaṃpradāyairgurubhiḥ saṃyutaiśca

Translation

Même la dīkṣā des vaiṣṇava devient entièrement stérile si elle n’est pas correctement accompagnée de la kathā sacrée. Ceux qui n’ont pas entendu le Bhāgavata Purāṇa de la bouche de gurus porteurs de lignée, reliés à une sampradāya authentique, n’ont pas réellement accompli cette voie.

Word by Word

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दीक्षा/अनुष्ठानस्य)

• व्यर्थम्: vain
• व्यर्थम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेयविशेषणम्

• वैष्णवानाम्: of the Vaiṣṇavas
• वैष्णवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• दीक्षा: initiation
• दीक्षा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कथाम्: discourse/story
• कथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय/पूर्वपद (preposition-like indeclinable)

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: properly)

• अनुष्ठिताम्: performed/observed
• अनुष्ठिताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) ‘अनुष्ठित’ (performed); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (दीक्षाम्—अर्थतः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• यैः: by whom (those who)
• यैः: Karana/Agent-instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘heard’

• भागवतम्: Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)
• भागवतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भागवतं पुराणम् = कर्मधारयार्थे विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव

• ससंप्रदायैः: with (proper) tradition/lineage
• ससंप्रदायैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + संप्रदाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘स’ उपसर्गसदृशः = ‘समेत/युक्त’ (with proper lineage)

• गुरुभिः: by/with teachers
• गुरुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• संयुतैः: associated/connected
• संयुतैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) ‘संयुत’ (joined/associated); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गुरुभिः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiṣṇava dīkṣā without properly performed kathā/śravaṇa is fruitless; true fulfillment requires hearing Bhāgavata Purāṇa from authentic, lineage-bearing gurus.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa mediated by guru-paramparā; bhakti grounded in right transmission (sampradāya) rather than mere external markers.

Application: Seek instruction from a qualified teacher rooted in a recognized paramparā; pair initiation/ritual commitments with regular Bhāgavata-śravaṇa and reflective assimilation (manana).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on guru, right conduct, and efficacy of Viṣṇu-bhakti when properly undertaken (theme)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Vaiṣṇavas
• Bhāgavata Purāṇa
• Guru
• Sampradāya

FAQs

What is the importance of Bhāgavata-kathā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that devotional initiation and practice remain ineffective without properly hearing sacred discourse—especially the Bhāgavata Purāṇa—because śravaṇa (hearing) nourishes and validates Vaiṣṇava discipline.

Why does the verse emphasize hearing from a sampradāya-connected guru?

It teaches that scriptural hearing must come through an authentic lineage so the meaning, method, and practice are transmitted correctly, preventing devotion from becoming merely formal or superficial.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek regular study/hearing of the Bhāgavata (or Vaiṣṇava kathā) under a qualified teacher, and treat initiation as a living practice supported by daily śravaṇa, reflection, and conduct—not as a one-time ritual.