Shloka 22
Śravaṇa-Mahātmya: The Śravaṇas, Cosmic Testimony, and the Paths of the Puruṣārthas
श्रवणान्पूजयेत्तत्र मया सह खगेश्वर / तस्याहं तत्प्रदास्यामि यत्सुरैरपि दुर्लभम्
śravaṇānpūjayettatra mayā saha khageśvara / tasyāhaṃ tatpradāsyāmi yatsurairapi durlabham
Wahai Raja segala burung (Garuda), sesiapa di sana memuja dengan pendengaran yang khusyuk, bersama-Ku, kepadanya akan Kuberikan anugerah itu—sesuatu yang sukar diperoleh bahkan oleh para dewa.
Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
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.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on Viṣṇu-bhakti as deliverance; śravaṇa/kīrtana as efficacious practices; promises of rare boons to devotees
FAQs
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.
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.
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.