Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

विप्रेभ्यश्च कृतात्मत्वान्महाभागवतो हि सः / विश्वोपकरणं नित्यं तदर्थं सङ्गवर्जनम् / स्वयमभ्यर्चनञ्चैव यो विष्णुञ्चोपजीवति

Transliteration

viprebhyaśca kṛtātmatvānmahābhāgavato hi saḥ / viśvopakaraṇaṃ nityaṃ tadarthaṃ saṅgavarjanam / svayamabhyarcanañcaiva yo viṣṇuñcopajīvati

Translation

ആത്മനിയമവും നിഷ്ഠയും കൊണ്ടു അവൻ വിപ്രന്മാരിലും മഹാഭാഗവതൻ എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. അവൻ നിത്യം ലോകഹിതത്തിനായി പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നു; അതിനായി ആസക്തിസംഗം ഉപേക്ഷിക്കുന്നു; സ്വയം കൈകളാൽ ആരാധന ചെയ്ത് വിഷ്ണുവിനെ ആശ്രയിച്ചാണ് ജീവിക്കുന്നത്.

Word by Word

• विप्रेभ्यः: to/for the Brahmins
• विप्रेभ्यः: Sampradana/Apaadana (to/from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी (4/5), बहुवचन; ‘ब्राह्मण’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कृतात्मत्वात्: because of self-mastery
• कृतात्मत्वात्: Hetu (Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘कृतं आत्मत्वं यस्य’ (self-controlled state) → ‘because of self-mastery’

• महाभागवतः: a great Bhāgavata (great devotee)
• महाभागवतः: Pratijna/Predicate nominative
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् भागवतः’ (great devotee)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• विश्वोपकरणम्: helping the world; service to all
• विश्वोपकरणम्: Karma/Predicate complement
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उपकरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विश्वस्य उपकरणम्’ (service/aid to all)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (always/constantly)

• तदर्थम्: for that purpose
• तदर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (for that purpose)

• सङ्गवर्जनम्: avoiding (bad) company
• सङ्गवर्जनम्: Karma/Predicate complement
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘सङ्गस्य वर्जनम्’ (avoidance of association)

• स्वयम्: oneself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (Agent emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मनः (oneself)

• अभ्यर्चनम्: worship (adoration)
• अभ्यर्चनम्: Karma/Predicate complement
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु) → अभ्यर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्रियानाम (worship)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

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

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• उपजीवति: lives by; subsists on; depends on
• उपजीवति: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mahābhāgavata traits: self-discipline, benefitting the world, purposeful detachment, hands-on worship, and livelihood anchored in Viṣṇu.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha aligned with īśvara-arpita karma; renunciation as non-attachment rather than abandonment; dependence on the Lord as śaraṇāgati.

Application: Adopt daily worship; simplify attachments; choose work that serves others; treat livelihood as sustained by and offered to Viṣṇu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: bhakti-lakṣaṇa and mahābhāgavata descriptions in adjacent verses (1.227)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vipras (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the importance of being a Mahabhagavata in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines a mahābhāgavata as one who has self-mastery, serves the welfare of all, renounces attachment, and centers life on direct worship and dependence on Lord Viṣṇu.

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

By emphasizing detachment, devotion, and righteous conduct, it points to the inner preparation that supports a favorable post-death journey—reducing binding attachments and aligning the mind with Viṣṇu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily personal worship, reduce compulsive attachments, serve others consistently, and make spiritual principles (Viṣṇu-bhakti) the basis for livelihood and life-decisions.