Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

विष्णोः कथाख्याभरणैश्च युक्तं तदेव कर्णं सुंदरं चाहुरार्याः / तस्मात्सदा भागवतार्थसारं शृण्वन्ति ये सततं वाचयन्ति

Transliteration

viṣṇoḥ kathākhyābharaṇaiśca yuktaṃ tadeva karṇaṃ suṃdaraṃ cāhurāryāḥ / tasmātsadā bhāgavatārthasāraṃ śṛṇvanti ye satataṃ vācayanti

Translation

高貴なる者たちは、主ヴィシュヌの聖なる物語の語りによって飾られた耳こそが真に美しいと宣言する。ゆえに、『バーガヴァタ』の要義を常に聴聞し、また折々に誦読する者たちは、いついかなる時もそれを行うのである。

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of Viṣṇu)

• कथा-आख्य-आभरणैः: by ornaments called narratives (story-ornaments)
• कथा-आख्य-आभरणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; साधन/हेतु (by means of)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• युक्तम्: endowed/connected
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualified: कर्णम्)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश (that)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• कर्णम्: ear
• कर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सुन्दरम्: beautiful
• सुन्दरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of कर्णम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आहुः: say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• आर्याः: the noble ones
• आर्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तृ (subject of आहुः)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक तद्)
• Form: हेतु/अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (therefore/from that reason)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• भागवत-अर्थ-सारम्: the essence of the meaning of the Bhāgavata
• भागवत-अर्थ-सारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म (object of शृण्वन्ति/वाचयन्ति)

• शृण्वन्ति: hear
• शृण्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध/निर्देश (those who)

• सततम्: continually
• सततम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत्)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: continually)

• वाचयन्ति: cause to be recited / have it read
• वाचयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative: cause to be recited/read)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: True beauty is receptivity to Viṣṇu-kathā; constant listening and recitation of Bhāgavata’s essence is a sustaining sādhana.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa-kīrtana as direct purifier and stabilizer of mind; bhakti as both means and end, culminating in inner peace and God-centered perception.

Application: Establish daily Bhāgavata reading/listening; practice recitation (vācana) aloud; join/host weekly kathā; treat the senses—especially hearing—as instruments of liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: assembly/home/temple (generic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: praise of Hari-nāma and śravaṇa as purifying and meritorious (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhagavata

FAQs

What is the importance of hearing Vishnu-katha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that the ear becomes truly “ornamented” and auspicious when it is filled with Viṣṇu’s sacred narratives, implying spiritual refinement through devoted listening (śravaṇa).

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader spiritual message?

Within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue, it emphasizes devotion as a practical discipline: repeatedly listening to and reciting the essential Bhāgavata meaning as a steady, purifying practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Set a daily routine to hear or read aloud a short portion of Viṣṇu-related scripture (Purāṇa/Bhāgavata), focusing on understanding and consistency rather than volume.