Shloka 48

Haristuti-saṅgraha: Devatā–Ṛṣi Praṇāma, Nāma-māhātmya, and Vairāgya from Deha-āsakti

Devanagari script

यो वसिष्ठानन्तरजो मरीचिर्ब्रह्मनन्दनः / हरिन्तुष्टाव परया भक्त्या नारायणं गुरुम्

Transliteration

yo vasiṣṭhānantarajo marīcirbrahmanandanaḥ / harintuṣṭāva parayā bhaktyā nārāyaṇaṃ gurum

Translation

വസിഷ്ഠന്റെ ശേഷം ജനിച്ച ബ്രഹ്മപുത്രൻ മരീചി പരമഭക്തിയോടെ ഹരിയെ സ്തുതിച്ചു; നാരായണനെ ഗുരുവായി കരുതി അവനെ പ്രസന്നനാക്കി.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचकः सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• vasiṣṭha-anantara-jaḥ: born after Vasiṣṭha (his next-born)
• vasiṣṭha-anantara-jaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + anantara (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √jan (धातु) + घञ्/ज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वसिष्ठस्य अनन्तरः → वसिष्ठानन्तरः; तस्मात् जातः)

• marīciḥ: Marīci
• marīciḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: marīci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• brahma-nandanaḥ: son of Brahmā
• brahma-nandanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + nandana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः नन्दनः)

• harim: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• harim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tuṣṭāva: praised
• tuṣṭāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √stu (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: √stu ‘to praise’

• parayā: with supreme
• parayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भक्त्या)

• bhaktyā: devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; हरि-विशेषण/नाम

• gurum: the teacher (guru)
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नारायणस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra, praising the bhakti of sages)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Supreme devotion (parā bhakti) expressed through praise pleases Hari; Nārāyaṇa is the true Guru.

Vedantic Theme: Guru-tattva culminating in Bhagavan as the ultimate teacher; devotion as a direct means to divine grace.

Application: Treat spiritual learning as devotion: study, chant, and service offered to Nārāyaṇa-as-Guru; cultivate ‘parā bhakti’ through consistent stotra and ethical living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial assembly / sage lineage context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring motif of sages praising Hari; Nārāyaṇa as guru in moksha-oriented passages

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Marīci
• Brahmā
• Hari
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of parā bhakti (supreme devotion) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents parā bhakti as the force that truly pleases Hari—devotion expressed through sincere praise and surrender rather than mere formality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By highlighting Nārāyaṇa as Guru and the goal of devotion, it points to liberation through God-centered guidance—aligning one’s inner orientation toward Hari as the ultimate refuge.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat spiritual learning as devotion: recite and study with humility, keep Nārāyaṇa central in practice, and let praise translate into ethical living and steady remembrance.