Shloka 6

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच / दक्षनारदमुख्यैस्तु युक्तं त्वां कथमुक्तवान् / ब्रह्मा श्रीगारुडं पुण्यं पुराणं सारवाचकम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca / dakṣanāradamukhyaistu yuktaṃ tvāṃ kathamuktavān / brahmā śrīgāruḍaṃ puṇyaṃ purāṇaṃ sāravācakam

Translation

सूत उवाच—दक्षनारदमुख्यैः सह समन्वितं त्वां कथं ब्रह्मा श्रीगारुडं पुण्यं पुराणं धर्मतत्त्वसारवाचकं कथयामास?

Word by Word

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दक्ष: Dakṣa
• दक्ष: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• नारद: Nārada
• नारद: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• मुख्यैः: by the chief ones
• मुख्यैः: Karana/Instrument (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; ‘मुख्य’ = प्रधान (chief)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• युक्तम्: associated/connected
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; ‘युक्त’ = संयुक्त/समन्वित (connected/associated)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नाव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• उक्तवान्: (he) said/spoke
• उक्तवान्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (परिप्रयोगे भूतार्थे); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• श्री: auspicious/holy (honorific)
• श्री: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत् उपसर्गार्थे)
• Form: उपपद/पूर्वपद-रूपेण मानार्थक (honorific prefix)

• गारुडम्: Gāruḍa (pertaining to Garuḍa)
• गारुडम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गारुड’ = गरुडसम्बन्धि (of Garuḍa)

• पुण्यम्: holy/meritorious
• पुण्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सार: essence
• सार: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासपूर्वपद)

• वाचकम्: expounding/teaching
• वाचकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वाचक’ = कथयितृ/वर्णक (expounding)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purāṇa as ‘sāra-vācaka’—a compendium that states the essence of dharma/tattva through authoritative narration.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-prāmāṇya and paramparā as gateways to tattva-jñāna; essence-seeking (sāra-grahaṇa).

Application: Approach sacred texts through qualified inquiry, humility, and focus on actionable ‘essence’ rather than mere detail.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.1 (frame dialogue: Sūta–ṛṣis); Garuda Purana 1.2 (Brahmā as speaker; ‘sāra’ motif continues)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Brahmā
• Dakṣa
• Nārada

FAQs

What is the importance of calling the Garuda Purana “sāra-vācakam” in this verse?

It signals that this Purāṇa is presented as an essence-teaching text—summarizing core dharma and spiritually useful instruction rather than merely storytelling.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames the Garuda Purana as a trusted, Brahmā-taught source whose “essence” later includes teachings relevant to dharma and post-death understanding.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach Garuda Purana study as a disciplined learning tradition—seek the “essence” (ethical living, duty, and right understanding) rather than sensational details.