Shloka 14

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

पप्रच्छुस्ते सुखासीनं नैमिषारण्यवासिनः / ऋषय ऊचुः / वयं त्वतिथयः प्राप्तास्त्वातिथेयोसि सुव्रत

Transliteration

papracchuste sukhāsīnaṃ naimiṣāraṇyavāsinaḥ / ṛṣaya ūcuḥ / vayaṃ tvatithayaḥ prāptāstvātitheyosi suvrata

Translation

നൈമിഷാരണ്യവാസികളായ ഋഷിമാർ നിങ്ങൾ സുഖാസീനനായി ഇരിക്കുമ്പോൾ നിങ്ങളോട് ചോദിച്ചു. ഋഷികൾ പറഞ്ഞു—ഞങ്ങൾ നിങ്ങളുടെ അതിഥികളായി എത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു; ഹേ സുവ്രത, നിങ്ങൾ തന്നെയാണ് ആതിഥേയൻ, വിധിപൂർവ്വം ഞങ്ങളെ സ്വീകരിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• पप्रच्छुः: asked
• पप्रच्छुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुख-आसीनम्: seated comfortably
• सुख-आसीनम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आसीन (कृदन्त, आस्) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘सुखेन आसीनः’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (तम्/सूतम्)

• नैमिष-अरण्य-वासिनः: dwellers of the Naimiṣa forest
• नैमिष-अरण्य-वासिनः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैमिष (प्रातिपदिक) + अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नैमिषारण्ये वासिनः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ऋषयः: the sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• त्व्: indeed (emphasis)
• त्व्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अतिथयः: guests
• अतिथयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• प्राप्ताः: arrived
• प्राप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘arrived’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आतिथेयः: host (receiver of guests)
• आतिथेयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतिथेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘host’

• असि: are
• असि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुव्रत: O you of good vows
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु+व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सु ‘good’ + व्रत ‘vow’), पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

The sages of Naimisharanya (Rishis)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātithi-satkāra (guest-reception) and humility as the proper gateway to receiving sacred teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāritva—purity of approach and reverence toward the teacher/knower as a prerequisite for higher knowledge.

Application: Practice hospitality, respectful speech, and attentive listening when seeking counsel; treat teachers/guests with honor before asking questions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-āraṇya/āśrama-sattra region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.15–18 (continuation: worship inquiry, mokṣa means, maṅgalācaraṇa, Nārāyaṇa-stuti)

Characters & Entities

• Naimisharanya
• Rishis

FAQs

What is the importance of Atithi-dharma (hospitality) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the teaching context through dharma: the sages identify themselves as guests and remind the addressed teacher/host that receiving guests respectfully is a sacred duty that supports the proper transmission of Purāṇic wisdom.

How does this verse set the narrative for Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals and the afterlife?

Before topics like karma, preta-rites, and the soul’s journey are taught, the Purāṇa establishes a formal dialogue setting—sages in a sacred forest requesting instruction—signaling that the forthcoming teachings are to be heard in a disciplined, dharmic atmosphere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice atithi-sevā: welcome guests with respect, offer basic care, and engage in sincere inquiry and listening—creating the right ethical environment for learning and spiritual discussion.