Shloka 37

Śrīnivāsa at Svāmipuṣkariṇī: Darśana, Stotra, the Secret Veṅkaṭeśa Mantra, and the Meaning of “Vyaṅkaṭeśa”

Devanagari script

विति ह्युत्तमवाची स्याद्येति ज्ञानमुदाहृतम् / ककारः सुखवाची स्याट्टेति चित्तमुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

viti hyuttamavācī syādyeti jñānamudāhṛtam / kakāraḥ sukhavācī syāṭṭeti cittamudāhṛtam

Translation

On dit que «vi» est l’énonciation de la parole la plus haute, et l’on déclare que «ye» signifie la connaissance. La syllabe «ka» est dite désigner la félicité, et «ṭṭe» est déclaré signifier le mental (citta).

Word by Word

• viti: ‘vi’ thus
• viti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable quotative particle (इति); here with phonetic element ‘vi’ as part of mantra-syllable explanation

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) giving emphasis/reason

• uttama-vācī: denoting the highest speech
• uttama-vācī: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक) + vācī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; Karmadhāraya: उत्तमा वाक् यस्य/या—‘having excellent speech’ (here as predicate adjective)

• syāt: is/should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; √अस् ‘would be/is said to be’

• yeti: ‘ye’ thus
• yeti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable quotative particle (इति); with phonetic element ‘ye’ as mantra-syllable explanation

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta/Pratipādya (कर्ता/प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• udāhṛtam: is declared
• udāhṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया-फल/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘has been declared/uttered’; from उद् + आ + √हृ

• kakāraḥ: the syllable ‘ka’
• kakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; ‘the syllable/letter ka’

• sukha-vācī: denoting happiness
• sukha-vācī: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक) + vācī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st), Singular; Karmadhāraya: ‘speaking/denoting happiness’

• syāt: is/should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• ṭeti: ‘ṭe’ thus
• ṭeti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable quotative particle (इति); with phonetic element ‘ṭe’ as mantra-syllable explanation

• cittam: mind
• cittam: Karta/Pratipādya (कर्ता/प्रतिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• udāhṛtam: is declared
• udāhṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया-फल/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Syllabic contemplation: phonemes of the sacred name are treated as carriers of ethical-psychological meanings (vāk, jñāna, sukha, citta).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-vṛtti refinement through mantra-artha; aligning speech and mind toward sattva and knowledge.

Application: Use the syllable-meanings as a meditation ladder: purify speech (vāk), cultivate knowledge (jñāna), rest in contentment (sukha), steady mind (citta) during japa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: nāma-japa and artha-smaraṇa praised in devotional passages (general)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Citta
• Jnana

FAQs

What is the importance of syllable-meanings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats specific syllables as carriers of inner meanings—speech, knowledge, happiness, and mind—indicating that sound (śabda) is used as a precise tool for contemplation and spiritual training.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda, inner faculties like knowledge (jñāna) and mind (citta) shape perception and experience; this verse frames them through sacred sound-symbols, supporting disciplined awareness that aids the jīva’s clarity amid post-death transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder to refine speech, cultivate knowledge, seek sattvic happiness, and steady the mind—especially during prayer, japa, and rites performed for ancestors or the departed.