Shloka 13

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

नान्यस्य श्रवणं हि स्यात्पुराणं वेदसंमितम् / वदेद्यदि स मूढात्मा कीर्तिहानिमवाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

nānyasya śravaṇaṃ hi syātpurāṇaṃ vedasaṃmitam / vadedyadi sa mūḍhātmā kīrtihānimavāpnuyāt

Translation

വേദസമ്മതമായ ഈ പുരാണം എല്ലാവർക്കും ശ്രവിക്കേണ്ടതല്ല. മോഹിതൻ അതിനെ വിവേചനമില്ലാതെ പ്രസംഗിച്ചാൽ അവന്റെ കീർത്തി ക്ഷയിക്കും.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• अन्यस्य: of another (person)
• अन्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• श्रवणम्: hearing, listening
• श्रवणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुराणम्: the Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (श्रवणम् इत्यस्य विशेष्य/समनाधिकरण)

• वेदसंमितम्: commensurate with the Veda
• वेदसंमितम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda + saṃmita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदेन संमितम् = 'measured/commensurate with the Veda')

• वदेत्: should speak
• वदेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (Clause linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (conditional conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मूढात्मा: a deluded person
• मूढात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūḍha + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (मूढः आत्मा यस्य/मूढ आत्मा = 'deluded-souled')

• कीर्तिहानिम्: loss of fame
• कीर्तिहानिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrti + hāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कीर्तेः हानिः = 'loss of fame')

• अवाप्नुयात्: would obtain, would incur
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava + āp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra (fitness) and maryādā (proper boundaries) in transmitting Veda-aligned Purāṇic knowledge; indiscriminate teaching leads to kīrti-hāni.

Vedantic Theme: Śruti-smṛti-sāmarasya (harmony of Purāṇa with Veda) and the ethical discipline (yama-like restraint) that protects sacred knowledge.

Application: Share sacred teachings with discernment: ensure respectful context, qualified listeners, and right intention; avoid sensationalizing or teaching for vanity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring injunctions on śravaṇa/pravacana with śraddhā and proper adhikāra (general thematic parallel within Purāṇa discourse frames)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Purana

FAQs

What is the importance of selective recitation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that Veda-consistent Purāṇic teachings should be shared with discernment; indiscriminate exposition to the unfit is considered improper and leads to reputational and dharmic decline for the speaker.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s spiritual instruction style?

It frames the text as Veda-approved (veda-saṃmita) and emphasizes adhikāra (fitness/eligibility) for hearing, implying that deeper teachings—often tied to death rites, subtle-body doctrine, and dharma—require a prepared listener.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study and teach sacred material respectfully: choose appropriate settings, ensure the listener’s sincerity, and avoid sensationalizing topics like death rituals or afterlife descriptions for mere curiosity.