Shloka 18

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

यज्वानः क्रतुमुख्यानां वेदानां पारगा अपि / न तां यान्ति गतिं भक्ता यां यान्ति मुनिसत्तमाः

Transliteration

yajvānaḥ kratumukhyānāṃ vedānāṃ pāragā api / na tāṃ yānti gatiṃ bhaktā yāṃ yānti munisattamāḥ

Translation

ശ്രേഷ്ഠ യാഗങ്ങൾ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കുന്നവരും വേദങ്ങളിൽ പാരംഗതരുമായവരും പോലും, മുനിശ്രേഷ്ഠർ പ്രാപിക്കുന്ന ആ പരമഗതിയെ പ്രാപിക്കുകയില്ല.

Word by Word

• यज्वानः: sacrificers
• यज्वानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; √यज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• क्रतुमुख्यानाम्: of the chief sacrifices
• क्रतुमुख्यानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु+मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—क्रतूनां मुख्याः (‘chief among sacrifices’)

• वेदानाम्: of the Vedas
• वेदानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पारगाः: those who have mastered (gone to the far shore)
• पारगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पारं गताः’ (knowers who have reached the far shore)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Modifier (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद-अव्यय (even)

• न: not
• न: Modifier (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यान्ति: go/attain
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• गतिम्: state/goal
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भक्ताः: devotees
• भक्ताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• याम्: which
• याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• यान्ति: go/attain
• यान्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• मुनिसत्तमाः: the best sages
• मुनिसत्तमाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि+सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—मुनिषु सत्तमाः (‘best among sages’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual performance and Vedic mastery alone do not yield the highest gati; the sages attain a superior end through higher realization/devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Distinction between svarga (karma-phala) and mokṣa (parama-gati); superiority of jñāna/bhakti over mere karma.

Application: Use ritual and study as preparatory disciplines; cultivate inner transformation—devotion, meditation, and discernment—to aim for the ‘higher gati’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.227.17: ritual without bhakti is incomplete; Garuda Purana: recurring contrast of svarga vs mokṣa in didactic passages

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Yajna
• Munis (sages)
• Bhaktas (devotees)

FAQs

What is the importance of bhakti versus ritual in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that ritual performance and even Vedic mastery do not reach the highest destination; the supreme attainment is associated with the realized sages, implying inner realization and higher spiritual discipline beyond ritual merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul’s highest goal?

It distinguishes ordinary religious attainments (from sacrifices and learning) from the highest gati, which is reached by munisattamas—suggesting liberation-oriented realization rather than results limited to ritual or scholarship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Respect rituals and study, but prioritize inner transformation—ethical living, steady devotion, and contemplative practice—so spirituality becomes realization, not only performance.