Shloka 28

Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā

Devanagari script

न यत्र गोविन्दकथामहानदी न यत्र नारायणपादसंश्रयः / न यत्र विष्णोः सततं वचोस्ति न संवसेत्तत्क्षणमात्रं कथञ्चित्

Transliteration

na yatra govindakathāmahānadī na yatra nārāyaṇapādasaṃśrayaḥ / na yatra viṣṇoḥ satataṃ vacosti na saṃvasettatkṣaṇamātraṃ kathañcit

Translation

ゴーヴィンダの聖なる物語という大河が流れず、ナーラーヤナの御足に帰依する拠り所もなく、ヴィシュヌの御名と御言葉が絶えず語られない場所には、たとえ刹那たりとも住んではならない。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• गोविन्दकथामहानदी: the great river of Govinda’s stories
• गोविन्दकथामहानदी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द + कथा + महा + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः—‘गोविन्दकथा’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गोविन्दस्य कथा) + ‘महा-नदी’ (कर्मधारयः: महानदी) ; समस्तपदम् = ‘गोविन्दकथा एव महानदी’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (where)

• नारायणपादसंश्रयः: refuge at Nārāyaṇa’s feet
• नारायणपादसंश्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण + पाद + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: नारायणस्य पादयोः संश्रयः

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (where)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: continually)

• वचः: speech / discourse
• वचः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अस्ति: is / exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• संवसेत्: should dwell
• संवसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘that (place)’

• क्षणमात्रम्: even for a moment
• क्षणमात्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: क्षणस्य मात्रम्

• कथञ्चित्: at all / somehow
• कथञ्चित्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथञ्चित् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in any way/at all)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satsanga and continuous Hari-kathā are essential; residence should be chosen by proximity to Viṣṇu-bhakti and śravaṇa-kīrtana.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as the most accessible means in Kali-yuga; śravaṇa as a purifier of antaḥkaraṇa leading toward steadiness (niṣṭhā) and peace (śānti).

Application: Choose community, home, and daily environment where Viṣṇu-nāma/kathā is heard; cultivate a ‘kathā-stream’ through regular reading, discourse, and association with devotees.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: village/settlement (generic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Bhakti/ācāra sections): praise of Hari-nāma, śravaṇa-kīrtana, and satsanga as purifiers (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Govinda
• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-katha (Govinda’s stories) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Vishnu-katha as a life-sustaining “great river”: a spiritually purifying current that makes a place fit for living by keeping devotion and right remembrance alive.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey discussed in the Preta Kanda?

Preta Kanda emphasizes supports that aid consciousness at death and beyond; constant remembrance and hearing of Viṣṇu’s names/teachings is presented here as essential spiritual refuge, unlike environments devoid of such remembrance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose daily company and environments that encourage prayer, bhajana, and scriptural listening; even brief regular exposure to Vishnu-katha and devotional speech is recommended, while avoiding spaces that cultivate forgetfulness of dharma.