Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

तथा सूर्यं भैरवं मातारश्व तथा वाणीं गिरिजां वै श्रियं च / सर्वेपि ते वैष्णवा नैव लोके न तद्भक्ता वेति चार्या वदन्ति

Transliteration

tathā sūryaṃ bhairavaṃ mātāraśva tathā vāṇīṃ girijāṃ vai śriyaṃ ca / sarvepi te vaiṣṇavā naiva loke na tadbhaktā veti cāryā vadanti

Translation

അതുപോലെ സൂര്യൻ, ഭൈരവൻ, മാതരിശ്വൻ (വായു), വാണി (സരസ്വതി), ഗിരിജ (പാർവതി), ശ്രീ (ലക്ഷ്മി)—ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ ഇവരൊക്കെയും വൈഷ്ണവരാണ്; അവർ അവന്റെ ‘അഭക്തർ’ അല്ലെന്ന് ആചാര്യർ പറയുന്നു।

Word by Word

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sūryam: Sūrya (Sun-god)
• sūryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhairavam: Bhairava
• bhairavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhairava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• mātaraśva: Mātaraśva
• mātaraśva: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mātaraśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); proper name

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• vāṇīm: Vāṇī (Sarasvatī/speech)
• vāṇīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• girijām: Girijā (Pārvatī)
• girijām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: girijā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Particle (निपात) emphasis

• śriyam: Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• śriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• sarve: all (of them)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Particle (निपात) ‘also/even’

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Negation (निषेध)

• eva: at all/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Particle (निपात) emphasis

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Negation (निषेध)

• tad-bhaktāḥ: devotees of Him
• tad-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘devotees of that (Viṣṇu)’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Quotation marker (इति)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• āryāḥ: the noble/learned (teachers)
• āryāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vadanti: say
• vadanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sarva-devatā as Vaiṣṇava: worship of various deities can be understood as connected to Viṣṇu; teachers deny that they are outside His devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin/inner-controller idea: the One pervades and is served through many divine offices; unity underlying plurality.

Application: Honor diverse devotional forms while keeping a unifying theological center; interpret differences as functional roles rather than absolute rival ultimates.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: doctrinal reconciliation within discourse

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.21 (Viṣṇu as central purport); Garuda Purana 3.1.22 (supremacy claim balanced here)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Bhairava
• Matarishvan (Vayu)
• Sarasvati (Vani)
• Parvati (Girija)
• Lakshmi (Shri)
• Vaishnavas
• Acharyas

FAQs

What is the importance of non-sectarian devotion in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames major deities as aligned with Viṣṇu, teaching that sincere reverence to them need not be treated as opposition to Vaiṣṇava devotion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It emphasizes right orientation of devotion: honoring divine powers without hostility supports dharmic living, which in Garuḍa Purāṇa contexts is foundational for a favorable post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid sectarian contempt: respect different forms of worship, and cultivate steady bhakti and ethical conduct as a unified spiritual practice.