Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

श्रुत्वा सुरऋषिर्विष्णोः प्राधान्यमिदमीश्वरात् / स विष्णुं सम्यगाराध्य सिद्धः पदमवाप्तवान्

Transliteration

śrutvā suraṛṣirviṣṇoḥ prādhānyamidamīśvarāt / sa viṣṇuṃ samyagārādhya siddhaḥ padamavāptavān

Translation

ಈಶ್ವರನಿಂದ ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ಪರಮ ಪ್ರಾಧಾನ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದ ದೇವರ್ಷಿ, ವಿಧಿಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು ಆರಾಧಿಸಿದನು; ಸಿದ್ಧನಾಗಿ ಪರಮ ಪದವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದನು।

Word by Word

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय-कृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive)

• सुरऋषिः: the divine sage
• सुरऋषिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (सुरश्चासौ ऋषिः)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Genitive singular)

• प्राधान्यम्: supremacy, pre-eminence
• प्राधान्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राधान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• ईश्वरात्: from the Lord
• ईश्वरात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Ablative singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Nominative singular)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• सम्यक्: properly, duly
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb), अव्ययम्

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु) + ल्यप्/य (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्तम् (gerund)

• सिद्धः: accomplished, perfected
• सिद्धः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् (past participle used adjectivally)

• पदम्: state/abode
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• अवाप्तवान्: attained
• अवाप्तवान्: Kriya (Resultant action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + आप् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (perfective past participle, nominative sg)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hearing (śravaṇa) of Viṣṇu’s supreme status from the Lord leads to proper worship (ārādhana) and perfection culminating in the highest state.

Vedantic Theme: Śravaṇa → bhakti-sādhana → siddhi; the Supreme as the final refuge and goal (parama-pada).

Application: Adopt a śravaṇa-kīrtana routine (study/listen to stotra and purāṇic teaching), then formalize worship (pūjā, japa) with consistency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: stotra-mahātmyas where hearing/reciting leads to purification and liberation; Garuda Purana: narratives of sages attaining by Vishnu worship

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ishvara
• Sura-rishi

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s supremacy (prādhānya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Viṣṇu’s pre-eminence as a transformative truth: hearing it from the Lord inspires right worship, which culminates in spiritual perfection and attainment of the highest state.

How does this verse describe the path to liberation?

It outlines a simple progression—hearing sacred instruction (śrutvā), performing proper devotion (samyag ārādhya), becoming spiritually accomplished (siddhaḥ), and attaining the supreme state (padam avāptavān).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize authentic learning from reliable scripture/teachers, then practice steady, disciplined devotion and ethical living—treating worship as a complete path toward inner refinement and liberation.