Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

स्नानदानोपचारेण पूजयित्वा यथाविधि / केन विष्णुः प्रसन्नः स्यात्स कथं पूज्यते नरैः

Transliteration

snānadānopacāreṇa pūjayitvā yathāvidhi / kena viṣṇuḥ prasannaḥ syātsa kathaṃ pūjyate naraiḥ

Translation

സ്നാനം, ദാനം മുതലായ ഉപചാരങ്ങളാൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം പൂജിച്ച ശേഷം—ഏത് ഉപായത്താൽ വിഷ്ണു പ്രസന്നനാകും? മനുഷ്യർ അവനെ എങ്ങനെ പൂജിക്കണം?

Word by Word

• स्नान-दान-उपचारेण: by bathing, gifts, and services
• स्नान-दान-उपचारेण: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + उपचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (स्नानं च दानं च उपचारः च), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• पूजयित्वा: having worshipped
• पूजयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), ‘having worshipped’

• यथा-विधि: according to rule
• यथा-विधि: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• केन: by what (means)
• केन: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (विष्णुः)

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

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)

• पूज्यते: is worshipped
• पूज्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), आत्मनेपद

• नरैः: by men
• नरैः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra) speaking to Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-pūjā requires both correct procedure (yathāvidhi) and the right means that genuinely pleases the Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-brahma upāsanā—devotion expressed through ritual, charity, and reverent service as a support for purification and God-realization.

Application: Combine worship with ethical giving (dāna) and purity (snāna); ask not only ‘what to do’ but ‘what pleases’—align practice with devotion and sincerity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-āśrama/sattra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.16 (mokṣa-sādhana and tattva-vinirṇaya requested)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of snāna and dāna in Garuda Purana worship practices?

This verse frames worship as more than offerings: ritual purity (snāna), ethical generosity (dāna), and proper upacāras together form the means by which Viṣṇu is pleased.

How does this verse explain the correct method of Vishnu worship?

It emphasizes yathāvidhi—worship aligned with scriptural procedure—then asks for the essential principle that truly pleases Viṣṇu, indicating that correct intent and prescribed conduct are central.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and discipline in prayer, pair devotion with real charity, and follow a consistent, respectful worship routine rather than treating rituals as mere formality.