Shloka 14

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

Devanagari script

समर्चयामास महाविभूत्या भक्त्या हरेः पादतीर्थं दधार / अस्तौन्महाभागवतप्रधानो हरिं गुरुं भक्तिविवर्धितात्मा

Transliteration

samarcayāmāsa mahāvibhūtyā bhaktyā hareḥ pādatīrthaṃ dadhāra / astaunmahābhāgavatapradhāno hariṃ guruṃ bhaktivivardhitātmā

Translation

大いなる供物と恭敬のバクティをもって彼は礼拝し、ハリの御足の聖なるティールタ（水）を受けて戴き、奉持した。ついで大バガヴァタの中の第一人者は、師なるハリを讃嘆し、バクティによって内なる自己はいよいよ増大した。

Word by Word

• समर्चयामास: worshipped
• समर्चयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (periphrastic perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘worshipped’

• महा-विभूत्या: with great splendor/offerings
• महा-विभूत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + विभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; genitive singular

• पाद-तीर्थम्: water from (washing) the feet; foot-sanctifying water
• पाद-तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘पादस्य तीर्थम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

• दधार: held, bore
• दधार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• अस्तौत्: praised
• अस्तौत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular

• महा-भागवत-प्रधानः: the foremost great devotee
• महा-भागवत-प्रधानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भागवत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular (subject epithet)

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; accusative singular

• गुरुम्: the teacher, guru
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to हरिम्

• भक्ति-विवर्धित-आत्मा: whose self was increased by devotion
• भक्ति-विवर्धित-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्धित (वि+वृध् धातु + क्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘भक्त्या विवर्धितः आत्मा यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; nominative singular qualifying subject

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic voice describing the devotee’s conduct toward Lord Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Arcana (worship), tīrtha-sevana, and stuti purify and expand the heart; Hari is the true Guru who matures devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as antaryāmin and jagad-guru; citta-śuddhi through upāsanā leading toward steadiness (śānti) and higher knowledge.

Application: Maintain a simple daily worship routine (lamp, water, mantra), honor sanctified water/prasāda with reverence, and include stotra-recitation to stabilize attention and gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred presence/altar-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: bhakti-stuti sequences surrounding this passage; Garuda Purana: tīrtha/prasāda praise in devotional chapters

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of pāda-tīrtha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pāda-tīrtha—water sanctified by Hari’s feet—as a revered devotional substance, received and borne with faith, signifying humility, purity, and closeness to Vishnu.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than detailing punishments or afterlife geography, it emphasizes the inner path: devotion to Hari, honoring sacred remnants, and praising the divine Guru—practices that refine the self and orient the soul toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate bhakti through sincere worship, reverence for sacred offerings (like tīrtha/charanāmṛta), and regular praise or remembrance of Vishnu—using devotion to strengthen ethical conduct and inner steadiness.