Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

प्रणामपूर्वकं भक्त्या यो वदेद्वैष्णवो हि सः / तद्भक्तजनवात्सल्यं पूजनं चानुमोदनम्

Transliteration

praṇāmapūrvakaṃ bhaktyā yo vadedvaiṣṇavo hi saḥ / tadbhaktajanavātsalyaṃ pūjanaṃ cānumodanam

Translation

Sesiapa yang berkata dengan bhakti, didahului pranama yang penuh hormat—dialah benar-benar seorang Vaiṣṇava. Dia berkasih sayang kepada para bhakta Tuhan, memuliakan serta memuja mereka, dan turut bergembira menyetujui pemujaan itu.

Word by Word

• प्रणामपूर्वकम्: with salutation first; preceded by obeisance
• प्रणामपूर्वकम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘प्रणामः पूर्वं यस्य तत्’ (with salutation first)

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-अर्थे (by/with devotion)

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• वदेत्: should speak; should say
• वदेत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वैष्णवः: a Vaiṣṇava (devotee of Viṣṇu)
• वैष्णवः: Pratijna/Predicate nominative
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• तद्भक्तजनवात्सल्यम्: affection for His devotees
• तद्भक्तजनवात्सल्यम्: Karma/Predicate complement (Enumerated quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + जन (प्रातिपदिक) + वात्सल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘तस्य भक्तजनस्य वात्सल्यम्’ (affection toward that Lord’s devotees)

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma/Predicate complement
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्रियानाम (act-noun)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अनुमोदनम्: approval; rejoicing (in others’ devotion)
• अनुमोदनम्: Karma/Predicate complement
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनु + मुद् (धातु) → अनुमोदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्रियानाम (approval/rejoicing)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa: devotion expressed through reverent speech and affectionate honoring of Bhagavān’s devotees.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavat-sambandha: honoring the Lord through His bhaktas; purity through devotion rather than mere birth-status.

Application: Begin interactions with pranāma and gentle speech; actively support, worship, and publicly affirm the honoring of sincere devotees.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-khaṇḍa/ācāra sections): bhakta-mahattva and bhakti-lakṣaṇa passages (general parallel themes)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaishnava
• Bhakta-jana (devotees)

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring devotees in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that affectionate respect, worship, and even approving the worship of Viṣṇu’s devotees are marks of a genuine Vaiṣṇava, making devotee-honor a core expression of bhakti.

How does this verse define a true Vaiṣṇava?

A true Vaiṣṇava is identified by devotional speech offered with reverent salutations (praṇāma) and by active goodwill toward fellow devotees—through vātsalya (care), pūjana (honor), and anumodana (support).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin spiritual conversations with humility, speak respectfully about the Divine, treat sincere practitioners kindly, and support good devotional acts rather than criticizing them.