Shloka 33

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

पाषण्डरुद्रादिकसं प्रतिष्ठितान्हरेर्वायोः शङ्करस्य प्रतीकान् / नमन्ति ये फलबुद्ध्या विभूढास्तेषां फलं शाश्वतं दुः खमेव

Transliteration

pāṣaṇḍarudrādikasaṃ pratiṣṭhitānharervāyoḥ śaṅkarasya pratīkān / namanti ye phalabuddhyā vibhūḍhāsteṣāṃ phalaṃ śāśvataṃ duḥ khameva

Translation

Mereka yang terpedaya, demi mengharap ganjaran, tunduk menyembah lambang dan arca palsu Hari, Vāyu dan Śaṅkara yang didirikan oleh golongan sesat—bagi mereka, hasilnya hanyalah dukacita yang kekal.

Word by Word

• pāṣaṇḍa-rudra-ādika-saṃ: with (names like) Pāṣaṇḍa, Rudra, etc.
• pāṣaṇḍa-rudra-ādika-saṃ: Upapada/Modifier (उपपद-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pāṣaṇḍa + rudra + ādika + saṃ (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद-समूह (तत्पुरुष-प्राय) + उपसर्ग 'सम्' (saṃ-) आगामी कृदन्ते संलग्न; अर्थ: 'by/with pāṣaṇḍa, rudra, etc.'

• pratiṣṭhitān: established
• pratiṣṭhitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ti-ṣṭhā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकृदन्त/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; धातु: स्था (to establish) उपसर्ग: प्रति

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vāyoḥ: of Vāyu
• vāyoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śaṅkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṅkarasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pratīkān: emblems/images
• pratīkān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• namanti: bow (to)
• namanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; धातु: नम् (to bow)

• ye: those who
• ye: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• phala-buddhyā: with a desire for results
• phala-buddhyā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala + buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: फलस्य बुद्धिः (intention/idea of reward)

• vibhūḍhāḥ: utterly deluded
• vibhūḍhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi-mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (पाठे 'विभूढ')

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• phalam: the result
• phalam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śāśvatam: eternal
• śāśvatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāśvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• duḥkham: suffering
• duḥkham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक (emphatic/limiting particle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bowing with fruitive intent to improperly established/heterodox emblems of Hari, Vāyu, and Śaṅkara leads to lasting sorrow.

Vedantic Theme: Purity of upāsanā (śuddha-bhakti) versus fruitive religiosity (phala-buddhi); right object/right means as conditions for auspicious result.

Application: Avoid worship systems rooted in deception or distortion; examine intention (seek truth over rewards) and legitimacy of practice; align devotion with authentic teaching.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: sectarian shrine/installation (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.32; Garuda Purana 3.1.29

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Vayu
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Pashanda (heretical sectarians)

FAQs

What is the importance of right worship (samyak-upāsanā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse warns that worship driven by craving for results, especially when directed to deceptive or improperly established symbols, leads not to merit but to enduring sorrow—so discernment and dharmic intent are essential.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death in terms of karma?

By stating that deluded, result-obsessed worship yields “everlasting sorrow,” the verse links misguided devotion to negative karmic outcomes that can manifest as suffering in post-death states rather than auspicious progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose spiritual practice with clarity and ethical intent, avoid manipulative or deceptive religious claims, and cultivate devotion aligned with dharma rather than merely seeking material or immediate rewards.