Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

वह्नेरप्यवरा नित्यं किञ्चिन्मित्राद्गुणाधिकाः / तदनन्तजस्तोत्रं वक्ष्ये शृणु खगेश्वर

Transliteration

vahnerapyavarā nityaṃ kiñcinmitrādguṇādhikāḥ / tadanantajastotraṃ vakṣye śṛṇu khageśvara

Translation

അഗ്നിയേക്കാൾ താഴ്ന്നവരായാലും അവർ പോലും നിത്യമായി അല്പമെങ്കിലും മിത്രനേക്കാൾ ഗുണാധികരാണ്. ഇനി ഞാൻ അനന്തജനിതമായ ആ സ്തോത്രം പ്രസ്താവിക്കും—ഹേ ഖഗേശ്വരാ, ശ്രവിക്കൂ।

Word by Word

• वह्नेः: of Agni (fire-god)
• वह्नेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Modifier (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अप्यर्थक-निपातः (also/even)

• अवराः: inferior, lower
• अवराः: Predicate/Qualifier (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय/नित्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of time)

• किञ्चित्: a little, somewhat
• किञ्चित्: Modifier (परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; परिमाणवाचक-निपातः (somewhat)

• मित्रात्: from Mitra
• मित्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्

• गुणाधिकाः: superior in qualities
• गुणाधिकाः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (गुणैः अधिकाः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; निर्देश/सम्बन्ध

• अनन्तजस्तोत्रम्: the hymn of Anantaja
• अनन्तजस्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्तज + स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (अनन्तजस्य स्तोत्रम्)

• वक्ष्ये: I will speak/tell
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stotra (hymn) as a potent vehicle of devotion and virtue; attentive listening (śṛṇu) is itself a spiritual act preparing the heart for grace.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as upāya: sound (śabda) and praise as purifiers leading toward steadiness and higher knowledge.

Application: Adopt a regular stotra practice (recite/listen) with attention; treat ‘listening’ as sādhana, not passive consumption.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: narrative transition (teacher addressing Garuḍa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: stotra sections addressed to Garuḍa; Ananta/Śeṣa-linked hymns in Vaiṣṇava contexts (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Mitra
• Ananta
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the Anantaja Stotra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces the forthcoming “Anantaja-stotra,” signaling a devotional hymn taught by Vishnu as a spiritually potent instruction within the Purana’s dialogue tradition.

How does this verse fit the Garuda Purana’s narrative style?

It functions as a transition: Vishnu addresses Garuda directly (“khageśvara”) and announces the next teaching section in the form of a stotra, a common Purana method for transmitting doctrine through praise-hymns.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred study with attentive listening and disciplined recitation—treat the hymn as a focused practice of remembrance (bhakti) and ethical refinement through cultivating ‘guṇa’ (virtues).