Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

कर्मानुसारेण धनार्जनं च वेदार्जनं शास्त्रसमार्जनं च / भविष्यति श्रवणं चापि विष्णोरत्यादराच्छ्रवणं दुर्घटं च

Transliteration

karmānusāreṇa dhanārjanaṃ ca vedārjanaṃ śāstrasamārjanaṃ ca / bhaviṣyati śravaṇaṃ cāpi viṣṇoratyādarācchravaṇaṃ durghaṭaṃ ca

Translation

業の勢いにより、財を得、ヴェーダを修め、諸シャーストラの学を積むこともあろう。さらにはヴィシュヌについて耳にすることさえある。しかし、深い敬虔と全身全霊の注意をもってその御栄光を聴聞することは、まことに得難い。

Word by Word

• कर्म-अनुसारेण: according to (one’s) actions
• कर्म-अनुसारेण: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; तृतीया-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘अनुसार’ = according to

• धन-अर्जनम्: acquisition of wealth
• धन-अर्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धनस्य अर्जनम्)

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

• वेद-अर्जनम्: acquisition/study of the Veda
• वेद-अर्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य अर्जनम्)

• शास्त्र-सम्-अर्जनम्: thorough acquisition of scriptures
• शास्त्र-सम्-अर्जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-√अर्ज् (धातु) + अन (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शास्त्रस्य समार्जनम्)

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

• भविष्यति: will be / will happen
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• श्रवणम्: hearing
• श्रवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु-धातोः भाव/करण-नाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = also/even

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

• अति-आदरात्: from excessive reverence
• अति-आदरात्: Hetu/Nimitta (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययवत्; ‘अत्यादरात्’ = from great reverence

• श्रवणम्: hearing
• श्रवणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• दुर्-घटम्: difficult
• दुर्-घटम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + घट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Wealth, Vedic learning, and scriptural accumulation arise by karma; even hearing of Vishnu may occur, but hearing with intense reverence (atyadara) is rare and hard.

Vedantic Theme: Grace and adhikara: mere information vs transformative shravana; shraddha and ekagrata as the true qualifiers; karma provides externals, bhakti requires inner ripeness.

Application: Do not equate scholarship with devotion; cultivate atyadara through humility, prayer for grace, disciplined attention, and association with sincere devotees.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated valuation of shravana/kirtana over mere learning (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vedas
• Shastras

FAQs

What is the importance of devoted śravaṇa (hearing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that mere access to wealth or even scriptural learning can arise from karma, but truly reverent hearing of Vishnu’s glories is rarer and spiritually more transformative.

How does this verse explain the role of karma versus devotion?

It distinguishes karmically-driven attainments (wealth, learning) from bhakti-driven receptivity: devotion is not guaranteed by scholarship and requires sincere inner reverence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Alongside study and duties, cultivate attentive listening to Vishnu-kathā (or sacred discourse) with humility—prioritizing sincerity over mere information-gathering.