Shloka 13

Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva

Devanagari script

न काष्ठे विद्यते देवो न शिलायां कदाचन / भावे हि विद्यते देवस्तस्माद्भावं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

na kāṣṭhe vidyate devo na śilāyāṃ kadācana / bhāve hi vidyate devastasmādbhāvaṃ samācaret

Translation

ദൈവം മരത്തിലുമില്ല, കല്ലിലുമില്ല; ദൈവം സത്യമായി അന്തർഭാവ-ഭക്തിയിലാണ് വസിക്കുന്നത്—അതുകൊണ്ട് ശുദ്ധഭാവം അഭ്യസിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• kāṣṭhe: in wood
• kāṣṭhe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• vidyate: exists/is found
• vidyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• devaḥ: God
• devaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• na: not
• na: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negative Particle

• śilāyām: in stone
• śilāyām: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• kadācana: Adhikarana (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of Time

• bhāve: in feeling/devotion
• bhāve: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• hi: indeed
• hi: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic Particle

• vidyate: exists
• vidyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Present Tense (Lat), Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular

• devaḥ: God
• devaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: N/A
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Conjunction (originally Ablative)

• bhāvam: devotion/feeling
• bhāvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samācaret: should practice/cultivate
• samācaret: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + car (धातु)
• Form: Optative (Vidhi Lin), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Īśvara is realized through inner bhāva (devotional disposition), not merely through external material forms; cultivate sincere devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Antarmukhatā and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi; the Divine as accessible through purified mind/heart rather than inert matter; critique of mere bāhya-upāsanā without bhāva.

Application: Prioritize sincerity in worship: japa, kīrtana, prayer, and ethical living that refines intention; treat mūrti/temple as aids, not substitutes, for inner devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Pretakalpa/Dharmakanda): recurring emphasis that gati follows citta and that bhakti outweighs empty ritual

Characters & Entities

• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of bhāva (inner devotion) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that the Divine is realized through sincere inner feeling (bhāva), so rituals or symbols become meaningful only when supported by genuine devotion and intention.

Does this verse reject worship of images made of wood or stone?

It emphasizes priority: God is not confined to material forms; the decisive factor is the devotee’s inner disposition. External worship is fruitful when accompanied by authentic bhāva.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing prayers, śrāddha, or any religious act, focus on sincerity, humility, and ethical conduct—treating devotion as an inner practice rather than mere external formality.