Shloka 56

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

with Pralaya and Nāma-Stuti

Devanagari script

मम स्वामी हरिर्नित्यं दासोहं सर्वदा हरेः / ब्रह्माद्या देवताः सर्वा गुरवो मे यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

mama svāmī harirnityaṃ dāsohaṃ sarvadā hareḥ / brahmādyā devatāḥ sarvā guravo me yathākramam

Translation

ഹരി നിത്യമായി എന്റെ സ്വാമി; ഞാൻ എപ്പോഴും ഹരിയുടെ ദാസൻ. ബ്രഹ്മാദി എല്ലാ ദേവതകളും യഥാക്രമം എന്റെ പൂജ്യ ഗുരുക്കന്മാർ.

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• स्वामी: master
• स्वामी: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to स्वामी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• नित्यं: always
• नित्यं: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• दासः: servant
• दासः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to दासः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• सर्वदा: at all times
• सर्वदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

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

• ब्रह्माद्याः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्माद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); Compound: ब्रह्मा-आद्य (ādi = beginning/and others)

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to ब्रह्माद्याः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying देवताः

• गुरवः: teachers
• गुरवः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• यथाक्रमम्: in due order
• यथाक्रमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): यथा + क्रमम्

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāsya to Hari as the stable identity; other deities honored as teachers in proper order, subordinate to Hari.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-sarvottamatva (Hari as supreme Lord) with respectful inclusion of devatas; bhakti as identity-shaping discipline.

Application: Adopt daily self-remembrance: 'I am Hari’s servant'; maintain respectful interfaith/deity etiquette without losing the central devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.2.57 (Hari praised everywhere in Veda; Hari as Lord of all)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion to Hari in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the ideal stance as lifelong surrender—seeing Hari as the eternal Lord and oneself as His servant—establishing bhakti and humility as the foundation for dharma.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on the soul’s journey after death?

By emphasizing surrender to Hari and reverence for divine order, it supports the Purana’s wider message that right orientation (bhakti, humility, dharma) steadies the mind for rites, remembrance, and the post-death passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate a daily servant-attitude—act ethically as an offering to Hari, and respect legitimate teachers and elders “in due order,” avoiding ego and spiritual arrogance.