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Shloka 9

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

भक्तिरष्टविधा ह्येषा यस्मिन्म्लेच्छो ऽपि वर्तते / स विप्रेन्द्रो मुनिः श्रीमान्स याति परमां गतिम्

Transliteration

bhaktiraṣṭavidhā hyeṣā yasminmleccho 'pi vartate / sa viprendro muniḥ śrīmānsa yāti paramāṃ gatim

Translation

この信愛はまことに八種である。たとえそれがムレッチャ（ヴェーダ文化の外の者）にあっても、その人は婆羅門の中の最勝者、尊ぶべき牟尼、福徳具足となり、最高の境地に至る。

Word by Word
भक्तिःdevotion
भक्तिः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootभक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
अष्टविधाeightfold
अष्टविधा:
Visheshana (Adjective of bhaktiḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootअष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘अष्ट प्रकारा’ (eightfold)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle)
एषाthis
एषा:
Pratijna/Predicate demonstrative
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम
यस्मिन्in whom
यस्मिन्:
Adhikarana (Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (in whom/wherein)
म्लेच्छःa mleccha (foreigner/outcaste)
म्लेच्छः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootम्लेच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अप्यर्थ (even/also)
वर्ततेexists; is found
वर्तते:
Kriya (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootवृत् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
विप्रेन्द्रःchief among Brahmins
विप्रेन्द्रः:
Pratijna/Predicate nominative
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विप्राणाम् इन्द्रः’ (chief of Brahmins)
मुनिःsage
मुनिः:
Pratijna/Predicate nominative
TypeNoun
Rootमुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
श्रीमान्fortunate; illustrious
श्रीमान्:
Visheshana (Adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing prosperity)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
यातिgoes; attains
याति:
Kriya (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootया (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
परमाम्supreme
परमाम्:
Visheshana (Adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘गति’ विशेषण
गतिम्state; destination
गतिम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootगति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eightfold devotion ennobles anyone—even a mleccha—granting saintliness and the supreme destination.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra by inner qualification (bhakti) rather than jāti; grace and devotion as direct means to paramā gati.

Application: Do not gatekeep devotion by birth or background; cultivate the limbs of bhakti consistently; honor sincere practitioners across cultures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.227: sequence on bhakti-lakṣaṇa and devotee supremacy (contextual)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda
M
Mleccha
V
Vipra
M
Muni

FAQs

This verse states that eightfold devotion is so spiritually potent that its presence alone qualifies a person for the highest attainment, regardless of social or birth-based labels.

It presents bhakti as a direct means to the “paramā gati” (supreme destination), implying inner devotion is a decisive factor for the soul’s highest end.

Cultivate steady devotional practice and character; the verse emphasizes sincere devotion over external identity, encouraging inclusive spiritual discipline.

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