Shloka 17

Kula-amṛta: Śiva’s Teaching to Nārada on Viṣṇu-Dhyāna and Mokṣa

Devanagari script

संसारबन्धनामुक्तिमिच्छंल्लोको ह्यशेषतः / स्तुत्वैवं वरदं विष्णुं सदा ध्यायन्विमुच्यते

Transliteration

saṃsārabandhanāmuktimicchaṃlloko hyaśeṣataḥ / stutvaivaṃ varadaṃ viṣṇuṃ sadā dhyāyanvimucyate

Translation

ಸಂಸಾರಬಂಧನದಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಬಯಸುವ ಯಾರೇ ಆಗಲಿ—ಈ ರೀತಿ ವರದನಾದ ಶ್ರೀವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು ಸ್ತುತಿಸಿ—ಅವನನ್ನು ಸದಾ ಧ್ಯಾನಿಸಿದರೆ ಮುಕ್ತನಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

• संसारबन्धनात्: from the bondage of saṃsāra
• संसारबन्धनात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संसारस्य बन्धनम्)

• मुक्तिम्: liberation
• मुक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इच्छन्: desiring
• इच्छन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि

• लोकः: a person/people (the world)
• लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतौ

• अशेषतः: entirely, without remainder
• अशेषतः: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित-अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थे ‘-तः’

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), प्रकारवाचक

• वरदम्: boon-giving
• वरदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (विष्णुम्)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विमुच्यते: is liberated
• विमुच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mumukṣu who praises Viṣṇu as Varada and then abides in constant meditation becomes free from saṃsāra.

Vedantic Theme: Mumukṣutva as a prerequisite; bhakti (stuti) ripening into steady dhyāna that dissolves bondage.

Application: Adopt a two-step sādhana: (1) daily stotra/namaskāra to awaken devotion, (2) follow with silent dhyāna; keep a written ‘saṃsāra-bandhana’ reflection to strengthen vairāgya.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.232.15-16, 1.232.18 (same mokṣa refrain and saṃsāra-bandhana motif)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of liberation (moksha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames moksha as freedom from saṃsāra-bandhana and presents devotion—praising Vishnu and steady meditation—as a direct means to that release.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than focusing on post-death routes here, it emphasizes the root solution: by fixing the mind on Vishnu through praise and dhyāna, one is freed from the cycle that drives repeated birth and death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily practice of stuti (recitation of hymns) and dhyāna (focused remembrance of Vishnu), aligning actions and intentions toward detachment from compulsive worldly binding.