Shloka 37

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

हरिप्रीतिकरो नित्यं पुष्करे क्रीडते यतः / अतस्तु पुष्कलो नाम लोके स परिकीर्तितः

Transliteration

hariprītikaro nityaṃ puṣkare krīḍate yataḥ / atastu puṣkalo nāma loke sa parikīrtitaḥ

Translation

അവൻ നിത്യവും ഹരിയെ ആനന്ദിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ; പുഷ്കരത്തിൽ തുടർച്ചയായി ക്രീഡിക്കുന്നതിനാൽ, ലോകത്തിൽ അവൻ ‘പുഷ്കല’ എന്ന നാമത്തിൽ പരികീർത്തിതൻ.

Word by Word

• हरिप्रीतिकरः: causing Hari’s pleasure
• हरिप्रीतिकरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of सः/पुष्कलः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि + प्रीति + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (हरिणः प्रीतिं करोति)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always)

• पुष्करे: in Puṣkara
• पुष्करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• क्रीडते: plays/sports
• क्रीडते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतु/कारणवाचक (causal conjunction: because/since)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Logical connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• पुष्कलः: Puṣkala (name)
• पुष्कलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Naming marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्दः (quotative/‘by name’)

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परिकीर्तितः: is proclaimed/celebrated
• परिकीर्तितः: Kriya-pradhana (क्रियाविशेष/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु) → परि-कीर्तित (कृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः, उपसर्गः परि- (is proclaimed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: That which pleases Hari—through continual devotion and divine sport—is celebrated and becomes spiritually renowned.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as a direct means of sanctification; līlā as the divine’s gracious engagement with the world.

Application: Seek practices and places that increase remembrance and joy in Hari; let one’s life be ‘Haripriya’—oriented to what delights the Divine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29.38–40 (immediately following): daily disciplines that ‘delight Hari’; Garuda Purana bhakti-oriented passages praising nāma-smaraṇa and tīrtha-sevā (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Puṣkara
• Puṣkala

FAQs

What is the importance of Puṣkara in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Puṣkara as a sacred locus where one connected with Hari ‘sports’—implying divine favor and renown linked to the tīrtha’s sanctity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes that pleasing Hari and association with holy places (tīrthas) leads to auspicious reputation and spiritual uplift, themes often paired with post-death merit in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate actions that are ‘Hari-prītikara’ (devotion, ethical living, worship) and honor sacred spaces through sincere pilgrimage or remembrance, aiming for inner purity rather than mere travel.