Shloka 22

Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas

Devanagari script

श्रवणान्पूजयेत्तत्र मया सह खगेश्वर / तस्याहं तत्प्रदास्यामि यत्सुरैरपि दुर्लभम्

Transliteration

śravaṇānpūjayettatra mayā saha khageśvara / tasyāhaṃ tatpradāsyāmi yatsurairapi durlabham

Translation

ഹേ ഖഗേശ്വര (ഗരുഡ), അവിടെ എന്നോടൊപ്പം ഭക്തിയോടെ ശ്രവണ-പൂജ ചെയ്യുന്നവന്, ദേവന്മാർക്കും ദുർലഭമായ ആ വരം ഞാൻ നൽകും.

Word by Word

• श्रवणान्: the Śravaṇas
• श्रवणान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (acc. pl.)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (optative, 3rd sg.)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• मया: by/with me
• मया: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहार्थक-अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश (postposition ‘with’)

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (khagānām īśvaraḥ) (vocative sg.)

• तस्य: to/for him; of him
• तस्य: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (gen. sg.)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (nom. sg.)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (acc. sg.)

• प्रदास्यामि: I will grant
• प्रदास्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (simple future, 1st sg.)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun; acc. sg.)

• सुरैः: by the gods
• सुरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (instr. pl.)

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (inclusive/emphatic particle)

• दुर्लभम्: hard to obtain
• दुर्लभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् (उपसर्ग) + लभ (धातु) + खल्/अ (प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (acc. sg., adjective)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa-pūjā (worship through attentive listening) joined with devotion to the Lord brings extraordinary grace surpassing even deva-attainments.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (divine grace) as decisive; bhakti via śravaṇa leading toward the highest good beyond svarga.

Application: Make sacred listening a daily discipline (scripture, nāma-kathā); approach with humility and consistency, trusting transformation over immediate reward.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on Viṣṇu-bhakti as deliverance; śravaṇa/kīrtana as efficacious practices; promises of rare boons to devotees

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Devas (Suras)

FAQs

What is the importance of śravaṇa (attentive listening) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats śravaṇa itself as a form of worship: by listening with devotion in the sacred context, one becomes eligible for a divine grant that is described as rare even for the devas.

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

In the Preta Kanda setting, Vishnu emphasizes practices that aid the departed and the living—hearing sacred instruction and worship—presented as powerful supports on the post-death journey and for attaining higher spiritual results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to authentic Purana/śāstra teachings with focused attention and reverence, treating it as worship—especially during śrāddha-related observances or remembrance rites—so that conduct and faith align with dharma.