Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

एतादृशांस्तव गुणान्नवितुं न शक्तं मां पाहि भगवन्सदृशो ह्यङ्गिरसा च

Transliteration

etādṛśāṃstava guṇānnavituṃ na śaktaṃ māṃ pāhi bhagavansadṛśo hyaṅgirasā ca

Translation

നിന്റെ ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള ഗുണങ്ങളെ വിവരിക്കാൻ എനിക്ക് കഴിവില്ല. ഹേ ഭഗവൻ, എന്നെ രക്ഷിക്കണമേ; അങ്ഗിരയും (പരിമിതമായ അർത്ഥത്തിൽ മാത്രം) സമാനനെന്നു പറയാം.

Word by Word

• etādṛśān: such (of this kind)
• etādṛśān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective qualifying guṇān

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• guṇān: qualities
• guṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• navitum: to praise
• navitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nu (नु, धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्/तुम्-अन्त), purpose; ‘to praise’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• śaktam: able, capable
• śaktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakta (प्रातिपदिक; √śak-क्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively with māṃ (me)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāhi: protect
• pāhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pā (पा, धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhagavan: O Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadṛśaḥ: similar, like
• sadṛśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective (I am like...)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निपात)

• aṅgirasā: with/like Aṅgiras
• aṅgirasā: Upamāna/Instrument (तृतीया—साधन/उपमान-प्रयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine qualities are beyond full articulation; the proper response is śaraṇāgati (seeking protection).

Vedantic Theme: Anirvacanīyatā/ineffability of the Lord’s greatness; bhakti as the mode of approach when language and intellect fall short.

Application: Adopt humility in spiritual discourse; balance study with prayerful surrender, especially when overwhelmed by complexity or doubt.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.7.57 (Hari as protector); Garuda Purana 3.7.60 (inner disposition over externals)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Angiras

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Vishnu’s qualities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames devotion as grounded in humility: the devotee admits the limits of speech before the Lord’s immeasurable qualities and seeks divine protection rather than self-reliance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

Although not directly describing afterlife mechanics, it establishes the devotional posture that underlies Garuda Purana’s teachings: surrender to Vishnu is presented as the highest refuge amid discussions of death, karma, and post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility in spiritual study—acknowledge limits, avoid pride in learning, and pair knowledge with prayerful reliance on the Divine for guidance and protection.