Shloka 34

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

कैर्धर्मैः कैश्च नियमैः कया वा धर्मपूजया / केनाचारेण तुष्टः स्यात्किं तद्रूपं च तस्य वै

Transliteration

kairdharmaiḥ kaiśca niyamaiḥ kayā vā dharmapūjayā / kenācāreṇa tuṣṭaḥ syātkiṃ tadrūpaṃ ca tasya vai

Translation

ഏതു ധർമ്മങ്ങളാൽ, ഏതു നിയമങ്ങളാൽ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഏതു ധർമ്മപൂജയാൽ അവൻ തൃപ്തനാകുന്നു? ഏതു ആചാരത്താൽ പ്രസന്നനാകുന്നു, കൂടാതെ അവന്റെ യഥാർത്ഥ രൂപം എന്ത്?

Word by Word

• कैः: by which?
• कैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; प्रश्नवाचक — Instrumental plural

• धर्मैः: by duties/virtues
• धर्मैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• कैः: by which?
• कैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• नियमैः: by disciplines/rules
• नियमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• कया: by which?
• कया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक — Instrumental singular

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• धर्मपूजया: by worship in the form of dharma
• धर्मपूजया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• केन: by what?
• केन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक — Instrumental singular

• आचारेण: by conduct
• आचारेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• तुष्टः: pleased
• तुष्टः: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष् (धातु) → तुष्ट (कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past passive participle ‘pleased’

• स्यात्: may become
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘may be/would be’

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (Predicate interrogative/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक — Interrogative neuter singular

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम — ‘that’ (demonstrative)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (Predicate/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter nominative/accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम — Genitive singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), questioning Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Which dharmas, niyamas, dharma-pūjā, and right conduct lead to satisfaction of Dharma/the Supreme, and what is the true form (rūpa) of that principle.

Vedantic Theme: Unity of sādhanā (ethical discipline) and tattva (true nature of the divine); outer conduct as preparation for inner realization.

Application: Adopt niyamas (self-regulations) and consistent right conduct; treat worship as embodied ethics, not only ceremony; inquire into the ‘form’ as attributes and as inner presence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: didactic dialogue

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.33 (questions on dhyeya/pūjya/vrata); Garuda Purana 1.2.35 (cosmic functions and avatāra)

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of Dharma worship (dharma-pūjā) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames dharma-pūjā as reverence expressed through lived ethics—duties (dharma) and disciplines (niyama)—not merely ritual, asking what truly satisfies Dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prioritizing ācāra (right conduct) and niyama (disciplined living), it points to the moral foundation that supports spiritual progress and favorable outcomes beyond this life, which later sections connect to post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat “worship of Dharma” as daily integrity: follow ethical duties, adopt consistent self-restraint, and make conduct—speech, livelihood, and actions—your primary offering.