Shloka 54
Hari-stuti by Śrī, Brahmā, Vāyu, Sarasvatī, Śeṣa, Garuḍa, Rudra, Vāruṇī and Pārvatī
Humility, Surrender, and the Power of the Name
सौपर्ण्युवाच / स्तोतुं गुणांस्तव हरे जगदी शवाचा श्रोतुं हरे तव कथां श्रवणे न शक्तिः / यस्तत्त्वनुं स्मरति देव तव स्वरूपं को वै नु वेद भुवि तं भगवत्पदार्थम्
sauparṇyuvāca / stotuṃ guṇāṃstava hare jagadī śavācā śrotuṃ hare tava kathāṃ śravaṇe na śaktiḥ / yastattvanuṃ smarati deva tava svarūpaṃ ko vai nu veda bhuvi taṃ bhagavatpadārtham
સૌપર્ણ્ય (ગરુડ) બોલ્યા—હે હરિ, હે જગદીશ! મારી વાણીમાં તમારા ગુણોનું સ્તવન કરવાની શક્તિ નથી; અને હે હરિ, તમારા કથાઓને પૂર્ણ રીતે સાંભળવાની મારી શ્રવણશક્તિ પણ નથી. હે દેવ, જે તત્ત્વતઃ તમારા સ્વરૂપનું સ્મરણ કરે છે, તે ભૂમિ પર તે ભગવત્પદાર્થ—પરમ સત્ય—ને કેવી રીતે ન જાણે?
Garuda (Sauparṇya, Vinatā-putra)
Concept: Smarana of the Lord’s essential form (svarūpa/tattva) becomes a direct means to know bhagavat-pada-artha (supreme reality).
Vedantic Theme: Bhakti leading to jñāna: remembrance purifies the mind and reveals tattva; the Supreme is the ultimate ‘padārtha’.
Application: Practice daily nāma-smaraṇa and rūpa-dhyāna (form-meditation) of Hari; pair listening (śravaṇa) with contemplation to internalize the teaching beyond mere hearing.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: cosmic reference
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on Hari-smaraṇa as purifier and liberator (common across its devotional sections)
FAQs
This verse presents true remembrance of Hari’s svarūpa as a direct means to grasp the Lord’s highest reality (bhagavat-padārtha), implying inner transformation beyond mere verbal praise.
Garuḍa admits the limits of speech and even hearing, and points to smaraṇa “in truth” (tattvataḥ) as the decisive practice that culminates in knowing the Supreme—an inner orientation that supports liberation themes throughout the Purāṇa.
Prioritize daily remembrance—reciting a Viṣṇu-nāma, contemplating the Lord’s qualities, and listening to Purāṇic kathā—while aiming for sincere, steady attention rather than performative praise.