Shloka 62

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

सर्वोत्तमो विष्णुरेवास्ति नाम्ना ब्रह्मादयस्तदधीनाः सदापि / मयोक्तमेतत्तु सत्यं न मिथ्या गृह्णामि हस्तेनोरगं कोपयुक्तम्

Transliteration

sarvottamo viṣṇurevāsti nāmnā brahmādayastadadhīnāḥ sadāpi / mayoktametattu satyaṃ na mithyā gṛhṇāmi hastenoragaṃ kopayuktam

Translation

Le Suprême est bien Vishnou de nom ; même Brahmā et les autres dieux dépendent de Lui en tout temps. Ce que j’ai dit est vérité, non mensonge. Dans la colère, je saisis le serpent de ma main.

Word by Word

• सर्वोत्तमः: the सर्वोत्तम / best of all
• सर्वोत्तमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सर्वेषां उत्तमः)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by name/as (the name)
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भावे (by name/as named)

• ब्रह्मादयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहारार्थे (Brahmā and others)

• तत्: of him/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अधीनाः: dependent (on)
• अधीनाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उक्तम्: said/spoken
• उक्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here प्रथमा (predicate: said)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here प्रथमा (this)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक निपात

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Vidhana (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• मिथ्या: false
• मिथ्या: Vidhana (विधेय-निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथ्या (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; निन्दार्थ/असत्यार्थक (falsely)

• गृह्णामि: I seize/hold
• गृह्णामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हस्तेन: with (my) hand
• हस्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उरगम्: serpent
• उरगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कोपयुक्तम्: filled with anger
• कोपयुक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक) + युक्त (युज् धातु + क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे (कोपेन/कोपस्य युक्तम्)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), speaking assertively about Vishnu’s supremacy

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vishnu is supreme; even Brahma and other devas depend on Him; satya is affirmed through fearless conviction.

Vedantic Theme: Paratva of Vishnu (supreme reality) and devatā-taratamya (hierarchy) under the One Lord; satya as dharmic speech aligned with tattva.

Application: Anchor devotion in the Supreme (Vishnu) rather than contingent powers; practice truthfulness and steadiness under provocation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.63 (serpent does not bite); Garuda Purana 3.28.64 (warning against kudevas); Garuda Purana 3.28.65 (worship of kudevas and ancestors declared futile in that frame)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Devas
• Serpent (Naga)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s supremacy in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that Vishnu is the सर्वोत्तम (Supreme) and that even Brahma and other gods remain dependent on Him, establishing a clear theological hierarchy for devotion and refuge.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader afterlife teaching?

In the Preta Kanda’s instructional setting, affirming Vishnu’s supreme authority frames Him as the ultimate protector and final refuge—an underlying foundation for teachings on the soul’s journey, sin, merit, and liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion and truthfulness while also watching anger: the verse models firm conviction in truth but also highlights how wrath can arise, reminding one to align power and emotion with dharma.