Shloka 23

Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā

Devanagari script

हरिप्राप्तौ साधनाः संति तेषु मुख्यं कचिच्चिन्तयामास देवी / तेषां मध्ये श्रवणं श्रेष्ठमाहुः पुराणानां सात्त्विकानां सदापि

Transliteration

hariprāptau sādhanāḥ saṃti teṣu mukhyaṃ kaciccintayāmāsa devī / teṣāṃ madhye śravaṇaṃ śreṣṭhamāhuḥ purāṇānāṃ sāttvikānāṃ sadāpi

Translation

ਹਰੀ-ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤੀ ਲਈ ਅਨੇਕ ਸਾਧਨ ਹਨ; ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿਹੜਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਹੈ, ਦੇਵੀ ਨੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ। ਸਦਾ ਇਹੀ ਆਖਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਸਭ ਤੋਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਸਾਧਨ ਸ਼੍ਰਵਣ ਹੈ—ਖ਼ਾਸ ਕਰਕੇ ਸਾਤ੍ਤਵਿਕ ਪੁਰਾਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਸ਼੍ਰਵਣ।

Word by Word

• हरिप्राप्तौ: in attaining Hari
• हरिप्राप्तौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + प्राप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—हरि-प्राप्ति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• साधनाः: means (methods)
• साधनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (साधनम्) बहुवचन-प्रथमा; छन्दसि/पाठभेदे पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगः सम्भवः; अत्र ‘means’

• सन्ति: are/exist
• सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तेषु: among them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• मुख्यम्: the chief (one)
• मुख्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपे ‘मुख्यं (साधनम्)’

• कचित्: somehow/at some point
• कचित्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अनिश्चितार्थक अव्यय (indefinite particle)

• चिन्तयामास: considered
• चिन्तयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• देवी: the देवी
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• मध्ये: among/in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (मध्ये = in the midst/among)

• श्रवणम्: hearing (listening)
• श्रवणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठम्: best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (श्रवणस्य)

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पुराणानाम्: of the Purāṇas
• पुराणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• सात्त्विकानाम्: sāttvika (pure)
• सात्त्विकानाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (पुराणानाम्)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa (listening) to sāttvika Purāṇa-s is the foremost upāya for attaining Hari among many sādhana-s.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-sādhya-viveka; bhakti as a direct purifier of antaḥkaraṇa leading toward Bhagavat-prāpti.

Application: Establish a daily/weekly discipline of listening to or studying sāttvika Purāṇa-kathā with attention and reverence; prioritize śravaṇa over merely accumulating auxiliary practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/Upadeśa sections): repeated praise of Hari-nāma, śravaṇa, and Viṣṇu-bhakti as rescuing means; Garuda Purana: śravaṇa-kīrtana as superior to many prayāścitta-s (theme echoed in nearby verses)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Devi
• Purāṇas

FAQs

What is the importance of śravaṇa (hearing) in Garuda Purana?

This verse states that among many means to attain Hari, the सर्वोत्तम (best) is śravaṇa—devout listening, especially to sāttvika Purāṇas that elevate the mind toward Vishnu.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing punishments or after-death routes, it emphasizes a preventive spiritual path: cultivating devotion through listening to pure Purāṇic teachings, which supports Hari-prāpti (God-realization) and higher destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to or study sāttvika Purāṇic discourse (with faith and attention), making it a daily sādhana that strengthens bhakti and ethical living.