Shloka 57

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

अल्पान्युपपुराणानि वदन्त्यष्टादशानि च / विष्णुधर्मोतरं चैव तन्त्रं भागवतं तथा

Transliteration

alpānyupapurāṇāni vadantyaṣṭādaśāni ca / viṣṇudharmotaraṃ caiva tantraṃ bhāgavataṃ tathā

Translation

ಉಪಪುರಾಣಗಳು ಅಲ್ಪವೆಂದು, ಅವು ಹದಿನೆಂಟು ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯೆಂದು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ—ವಿಷ್ಣುಧರ್ಮೋತ್ತರ, ತಂತ್ರ, ಭಾಗವತ ಮೊದಲಾದವು.

Word by Word

• अल्पानि: few, minor
• अल्पानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• उपपुराणानि: Upa-Purāṇas (minor Purāṇas)
• उपपुराणानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उप + पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपसर्गपूर्वक-समास (minor/secondary Purāṇas)

• वदन्ति: they say/declare
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अष्टादशानि: eighteen (in number)
• अष्टादशानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टादशन् (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (numeral adjective)

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

• विष्णुधर्मोत्तरम्: Viṣṇu-dharmottara (text)
• विष्णुधर्मोत्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + धर्म + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास (name of a text)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तन्त्रम्: Tantra (treatise)
• तन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• भागवतम्: Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)
• भागवतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ग्रन्थनाम

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Recognition and enumeration of Upapurāṇas as a structured body of secondary Purāṇic literature.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-pramāṇa and the layered scriptural ecosystem (primary/secondary texts) supporting dharma and bhakti.

Application: Use as a guide for curriculum: identify Upapurāṇas (e.g., Viṣṇudharmottara, Tantra, Bhāgavata) and approach them with awareness of genre and purpose.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.58-59 (continuation listing and guṇa assessment)

Characters & Entities

• Upapurāṇas
• Viṣṇudharmottara
• Tantra
• Bhāgavata

FAQs

What is the importance of the Upapurāṇas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the Garuda Purana recognizes a structured body of subsidiary Purāṇic literature (traditionally counted as eighteen), useful for organizing dharma teachings and related traditions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by pointing to authoritative supporting texts (Upapurāṇas like Bhāgavata and others), it frames the Garuda Purana’s afterlife teachings as part of a wider scriptural ecosystem rather than an isolated account.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this verse as a guide to consult aligned supporting sources—Purāṇic and tantric manuals—when studying or performing dharma-based practices, ensuring one’s understanding is grounded in recognized textual traditions.