Shloka 125

Devanagari script

तीर्थादिभूतः सांख्यश्च निरुक्तं त्वधिदैवतम् / प्रणवः प्रणवेशश्च प्रणवेन प्रवन्दितः(७७०)

Transliteration

tīrthādibhūtaḥ sāṃkhyaśca niruktaṃ tvadhidaivatam / praṇavaḥ praṇaveśaśca praṇavena pravanditaḥ(770)

Translation

അവൻ തീർത്ഥാദികളുടെ സാരഭൂതൻ; അവൻ തന്നേ സാംഖ്യം. അവൻ തന്നേ നിരുക്തവും അധിദൈവതവും. അവൻ തന്നേ പ്രണവം (ഓം), പ്രണവേശൻ, പ്രണവം കൊണ്ടുതന്നെ വന്ദിതൻ.

Word by Word

• tīrtha-ādi-bhūtaḥ: become/manifest as pilgrimage etc.
• tīrtha-ādi-bhūtaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त; √bhū + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, विशेषण; ‘तीर्थादिरूपेण भूतः’

• sāṃkhyaḥ: Sāṃkhya (system)
• sāṃkhyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāṃkhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• niruktam: etymology (Nirukta)
• niruktam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirukta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: indeed; but
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषार्थक/विरोधार्थक अव्यय

• adhidaivatam: the presiding deity principle
• adhidaivatam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhidaivata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• praṇavaḥ: Praṇava (Oṃ)
• praṇavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• praṇaveśaḥ: Lord of Praṇava
• praṇaveśaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रणवस्य ईशः)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• praṇavena: by/with Praṇava
• praṇavena: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• pravanditaḥ: praised/saluted
• pravanditaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vand (धातु) → vandita (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vishnu as the essence behind tīrthas and behind śāstric knowledges (Sāṅkhya, Nirukta), and as Oṃ—the seed of Veda and worship.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-brahman leading to Para-brahman; the Lord as adhidaivata (presiding divinity) of meanings and disciplines.

Application: Use Oṃ as the gateway mantra; study śāstra as a means to recognize the one presiding Reality; integrate analysis (Sāṅkhya) with devotion (Pranava-vandana).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.126 (Pranava, Gayatri, Shalagrama); Garuda Purana 1.15.127 (cosmic reclining forms; cause and effect)

Characters & Entities

• Praṇava (Oṃ)
• Tīrtha
• Sāṅkhya
• Nirukta
• Adhidaivata

FAQs

What is the importance of Praṇava (Om) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the Supreme as both the Praṇava (Oṃ) and its Lord, indicating Om as a direct, sacred designation of the highest reality and a primary means of praise and remembrance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By presenting the Supreme as the essence of tīrthas, philosophy (Sāṅkhya), and Vedic interpretation (Nirukta), the verse implies that purification, right knowledge, and devotion converge in remembrance of the Supreme—supporting liberation-oriented living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use Om-centered remembrance—such as mindful japa of Oṃ and Vishnu’s names—along with ethical conduct and study, treating pilgrimage and learning as supports for inner purification rather than mere formality.