Shloka 26

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् / साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यगव्यवसितो हि सः

Transliteration

api cetsudurācāro bhajate māmananyabhāk / sādhureva sa mantavyaḥ samyagavyavasito hi saḥ

Translation

Walaupun seseorang itu sangat jahat kelakuannya, namun jika dia berbhakti kepada-Ku dengan kesetiaan yang tunggal, dia patut dianggap sebagai orang suci; kerana tekadnya telah tertuju dengan benar.

Word by Word

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

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Condition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक निपात (conditional particle)

• सुदुराचारः: a very wicked person
• सुदुराचारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु- (उपसर्ग) + दुराचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘अत्यन्तं दुराचारः’

• भजते: worships; serves
• भजते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अनन्यभाक्: with exclusive devotion
• अनन्यभाक्: Karta (Apposition to subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भज्→भाक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अनन्यस्य भाक्’ (one who has/partakes of none other); ‘भाक्’ = भज्-धातोः कृत् (possessor/partaker)

• साधुः: a good man; righteous
• साधुः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed; certainly
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मन्तव्यः: to be regarded (as)
• मन्तव्यः: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव: ‘मन्तव्यः’ = ‘to be considered’

• सम्यक्: properly; rightly
• सम्यक्: Sambandha (Adverbial modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अव्यवसितः: firmly resolved
• अव्यवसितः: Karta (Apposition/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव- (उपसर्ग) + वस् (धातु) + नि (उपसर्ग) + त (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘अव्यवसित’ = ‘well-resolved/firmly determined’ (here with सम्यक्)

• हि: for; indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Reason/emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (for/indeed)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Reiteration/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ananya-bhakti reorients the person; even a former wrongdoer is to be regarded as sādhū because his resolve is rightly fixed on Bhagavan.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavat-prapatti and the primacy of inner orientation (niścaya) over past saṃskāras; transformative power of devotion.

Application: Do not despair over past faults; cultivate exclusive devotion and steady resolve; avoid judging devotees solely by prior reputation while encouraging ethical reform.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): Vishnu-bhakti as purifier; assurances of protection to devotees (various bhakti-stutis)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of exclusive devotion (ananya-bhakti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that unwavering, exclusive devotion to Vishnu can reorient a person’s life so decisively that they are to be regarded as righteous due to their corrected inner resolve.

How does this verse relate to sin, karma, and purification in Garuda Purana teachings?

It emphasizes inner conversion: even if past conduct is sinful, sincere turning toward Vishnu with single-pointed commitment marks a genuine shift that supports purification and dharmic living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do not justify wrongdoing, but commit to steady devotion and ethical reform—judge progress by sincere resolve, consistent practice, and corrected behavior over time.