Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

यज्ञैर्यज्ञपतिं केचिज्ज्ञानैर्ज्ञानात्मकं परम् / केचित्परमया भक्त्या नारायणमपूजयन्

Transliteration

yajñairyajñapatiṃ kecijjñānairjñānātmakaṃ param / kecitparamayā bhaktyā nārāyaṇamapūjayan

Translation

ಕೆಲವರು ಯಜ್ಞಗಳಿಂದ ಯಜ್ಞಪತಿಯನ್ನು ಪೂಜಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ; ಕೆಲವರು ಜ್ಞಾನದಿಂದ ಜ್ಞಾನಸ್ವರೂಪ ಪರಮತತ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು; ಇನ್ನೂ ಕೆಲವರು ಪರಮಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ನಾರಾಯಣನನ್ನು ಆರಾಧಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ।

Word by Word

• यज्ञैः: by sacrifices
• यज्ञैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• यज्ञपतिम्: the Lord of sacrifice
• यज्ञपतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञपति (प्रातिपदिक; यज्ञ + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• केचित्: some (people)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/1st case), बहुवचन — Nominative plural; अनिर्दिष्ट-समूहवाचक ‘some’

• ज्ञानैः: by knowledge(s)
• ज्ञानैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• ज्ञानात्मकम्: whose nature is knowledge
• ज्ञानात्मकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञानात्मक (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + आत्मक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन — Accusative singular; विशेषण (qualifying यज्ञपतिम्/परम्)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन — Accusative singular; विशेषण

• केचित्: some (others)
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Nominative plural; ‘some (others)’

• परमया: by supreme
• परमया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), एकवचन — Instrumental singular; विशेषण (भक्त्या)

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/2nd case), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• अपूजयन्: worshipped
• अपूजयन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन — 3rd person plural; ‘a-’ आगम (augment)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra), describing modes of worship

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme is approached through yajña (as yajñapati), through jñāna (as pure consciousness), and through bhakti (as Nārāyaṇa); paths align with seekers’ dispositions.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna–nirguna synthesis: the same Supreme appears as Lord of sacrifice and as knowledge itself; upāsanā and jñāna converge toward liberation.

Application: Choose a primary sādhana suited to temperament (ritual discipline, contemplative study, or devotion) while honoring the others as supportive; keep the Supreme as the focus rather than mere technique.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana frequently presents bhakti to Nārāyaṇa as a unifying remedy while acknowledging karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna as valid means

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Yajnapati
• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of yajña, jñāna, and bhakti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents three valid approaches—ritual sacrifice (yajña), spiritual knowledge (jñāna), and supreme devotion (bhakti)—as ways people worship the Supreme Lord, culminating in Nārāyaṇa.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana context?

By emphasizing worship of the Supreme through disciplined practice—ritual, knowledge, or devotion—the verse points to inner purification and God-orientation, which the Garuda Purana links with auspicious post-death outcomes and spiritual upliftment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a sincere path suited to your temperament—ethical ritual worship, study and contemplation, or daily devotion to Nārāyaṇa—and practice it consistently with humility and purity of intention.