Shloka 26

Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas

Devanagari script

शृणोति पक्षिशार्दूल स च पापैर्न लिप्यते / इह लोके सुखं भुक्त्वा स्वर्गलोके महीयते

Transliteration

śṛṇoti pakṣiśārdūla sa ca pāpairna lipyate / iha loke sukhaṃ bhuktvā svargaloke mahīyate

Translation

Ô Garuḍa, tigre parmi les oiseaux, quiconque écoute cet enseignement sacré n’est pas souillé par les péchés. Ayant goûté le bonheur en ce monde, il est honoré et exalté dans le séjour céleste.

Word by Word

• शृणोति: he hears/listens
• शृणोति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• पक्षिशार्दूल: O tiger among birds
• पक्षिशार्दूल: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षि-शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (पक्षीव शार्दूलः), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• पापैः: by sins
• पापैः: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

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

• लिप्यते: is tainted/defiled
• लिप्यते: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is tainted)

• इह: here
• इह: Adverbial (Desha/Kala)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सुखम्: happiness
• सुखम्: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भुक्त्वा: having enjoyed
• भुक्त्वा: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘भोगं कृत्वा’

• स्वर्गलोके: in heaven-world
• स्वर्गलोके: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (स्वर्गस्य लोकः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• महीयते: is honored/exalted
• महीयते: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; भावे प्रयोगः (is honored/glorified)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa of sacred teaching removes sin and grants both worldly well-being and heavenly exaltation.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through śravaṇa; merit accrues and obstacles (pāpa) are attenuated by devotional receptivity.

Application: Practice regular, focused listening to dharmic/Viṣṇu-centered teachings; pair listening with ethical living to sustain purity and well-being.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: earthly life and celestial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.17.25 (श्रवण-माहात्म्य and Matpura); Garuda Purana broader śravaṇa/paṭhana-phala passages (general)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Svarga

FAQs

What is the importance of śravaṇa (listening) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that attentive listening to the sacred teaching brings purification—one is not “tainted” by sins—and yields both worldly well-being and heavenly honor.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It links ethical-spiritual practice (hearing dharmic instruction) with karmic outcomes: happiness in earthly life and elevation to Svarga after death, suggesting a favorable post-death trajectory through merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to or study dharmic texts with sincerity, and align conduct with what is heard—using śravaṇa as a discipline for reducing harmful tendencies and cultivating merit.