Shloka 55

Sṛṣṭi-krama, Pratibimba-Upādhi, and Viṣṇu as Primary Brahman

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

वेदाक्षराणि यावन्ति पठितानि द्विजातिभिः / तावन्ति हरिनामानि प्रियाणि च हरेःसदा

Transliteration

vedākṣarāṇi yāvanti paṭhitāni dvijātibhiḥ / tāvanti harināmāni priyāṇi ca hareḥsadā

Translation

ദ്വിജന്മാർ എത്ര വേദാക്ഷരങ്ങൾ പാരായണം ചെയ്യുന്നു, അത്രയും ഹരിനാമങ്ങളുണ്ട്—അവ സദാ ശ്രീഹരിക്ക് പ്രിയം.

Word by Word

• वेदाक्षराणि: Vedic syllables/letters
• वेदाक्षराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य अक्षराणि)

• यावन्ति: as many as
• यावन्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक विशेषण

• पठितानि: recited/read
• पठितानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पठ् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘read/recited’

• द्विजातिभिः: by the twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि-जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (द्विजानां जातिः/द्विजातिः)

• तावन्ति: so many
• तावन्ति: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; परिमाणवाचक विशेषण

• हरिनामानि: names of Hari
• हरिनामानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि-नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (हरेः नामानि)

• प्रियाणि: dear/beloved
• प्रियाणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (नामानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (always)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari-nama is coextensive with Vedic sacred sound; divine names are endlessly dear to Hari and spiritually potent.

Vedantic Theme: Shabda-brahma culminating in Para-brahman as Vishnu; nama as accessible upasana bridging ritual learning and devotion.

Application: Integrate Veda-study with japa/kirtana of Vishnu’s names; treat nama as daily sadhana regardless of scholastic capacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.56-57 (Hari as Lord of all; Veda praises Him everywhere)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Veda
• Dvijati

FAQs

What is the importance of Hari-nama (chanting Vishnu’s names) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates Hari’s names as intrinsically precious—countless and ever-beloved—placing them alongside the sanctity of Vedic recitation as a potent devotional practice.

How does this verse connect Vedic study with devotion to Vishnu?

It links the ‘Vedic syllables recited’ with the ‘names of Hari,’ implying that devotion through divine-name remembrance harmonizes with (and is validated by) Vedic sacred sound.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a daily practice of Hari-nama japa (e.g., repeating Vishnu’s names) with reverence, treating it as disciplined sacred recitation that supports dharma and inner purification.