Shloka 10

Maṅgalācaraṇa, the Sages’ Inquiry, and Hari as Supreme with an Avatāra-Outline

Devanagari script

एतत्सर्वं तथान्यच्च ब्रूहि सूत ! महामते ! / नारायणकथाः सर्वाः कथयास्माकमुत्तमाः

Transliteration

etatsarvaṃ tathānyacca brūhi sūta ! mahāmate ! / nārāyaṇakathāḥ sarvāḥ kathayāsmākamuttamāḥ

Translation

एतत् सर्वं तथान्यच्च ब्रूहि, हे सूत महामते! नारायणकथाः सर्वाः अस्माकं उत्तमाः सम्यक् कथय।

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying एतत्)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थक (also/likewise)

• अन्यत्: other (things)
• अन्यत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• ब्रूहि: tell/speak
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सूत: O Sūta
• सूत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् मतिः यस्य सः)

• नारायणकथाः: stories of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणकथाः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नारायणस्य कथाः)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying कथाः)

• कथय: narrate
• कथय: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; नामधातु from कथा)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अस्माकम्: to us/for us
• अस्माकम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• उत्तमाः: excellent/supreme
• उत्तमाः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (कथाः)

Speaker

Sages (Ṛṣis) addressing Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa of Nārāyaṇa-kathā is itself a sacred means—requesting the totality of teaching with humility toward the knower (Sūta).

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as upāya: śravaṇa-kīrtana leading to antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and God-centered understanding.

Application: Regularly listen to/recite Viṣṇu-kathā (Purāṇa, Itihāsa), study with a competent teacher, and integrate teachings into daily conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: teaching assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1.6-1.1.9 (the set of questions that Nārāyaṇa-kathā will answer)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of Nārāyaṇa-kathā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the text as sacred narration centered on Nārāyaṇa; hearing such kathā is presented as “uttamā” (supreme), implying spiritual uplift and right understanding.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it establishes that guidance on life, death, and dharma in the Garuda Purana is to be grounded in Nārāyaṇa-centered teaching, which is the ultimate refuge and orientation for the soul.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize listening to and studying authentic Nārāyaṇa-centered teachings (kathā/śāstra) to cultivate devotion, ethical clarity, and steadiness in times of loss or transition.