Shloka 10

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

कथं हरौ मनुष्याणां भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी / केन सिध्येत्तु सकलं कर्म त्रिविधमात्मनः

Transliteration

kathaṃ harau manuṣyāṇāṃ bhaktiravyabhicāriṇī / kena sidhyettu sakalaṃ karma trividhamātmanaḥ

Translation

人において、ハリ（Hari）への揺るがぬ、道を外れぬバクティはどのように生じるのか。さらに、自己の三種のカルマはいかなる手段によって悉く成就するのか。

Word by Word

• कथम्: how?
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• हरौ: in/unto Hari
• हरौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण/7th case), एकवचन — Locative singular

• मनुष्याणाम्: of humans
• मनुष्याणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th case), बहुवचन — Genitive plural

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st case), एकवचन — Nominative singular

• अव्यभिचारिणी: unwavering / not deviating
• अव्यभिचारिणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यभिचारिणी (प्रातिपदिक; a- + व्यभिचारिन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेषण (भक्तिः)

• केन: by what?
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), एकवचन — Instrumental singular; प्रश्नार्थक

• सिध्येत्: may be accomplished
• सिध्येत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — 3rd person singular; ‘may be accomplished’

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/contrast

• सकलम्: entire
• सकलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन — Accusative singular; विशेषण (कर्म)

• कर्म: action/rite
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• त्रिविधम्: threefold
• त्रिविधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिविध (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + विध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular; विशेषण (कर्म)

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/6th case), एकवचन — Genitive singular

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) addressing Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The arising of avyabhicāriṇī-bhakti (unwavering devotion) to Hari and the means by which the self’s ‘threefold karma’ is brought to fulfillment.

Vedantic Theme: Integration of karma and bhakti: action becomes perfected when aligned with devotion and inner purity; movement toward niṣkāma orientation and God-centered agency.

Application: Adopt daily Hari-smaraṇa, satsanga, and disciplined conduct so devotion becomes steady; perform duties as offering, reducing egoic motive to harmonize and ‘complete’ one’s karmic obligations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (bhakti and dharma expositions; questions leading into instruction on devotion and right action)

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What is the importance of unwavering bhakti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames avyabhicāriṇī bhakti (unswerving devotion) as a central spiritual goal, prompting the teaching on how true devotion is generated and stabilized in human life.

What does the verse mean by the ‘threefold karma’ of the self?

It points to karma understood in three modes or categories (commonly discussed as bodily, verbal, and mental action), asking how the whole field of action becomes spiritually ‘successful’ when aligned with devotion to Hari.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion through consistent remembrance and worship, and purify karma by aligning body, speech, and mind with dharmic, compassionate, and truth-oriented conduct.