Shloka 19

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

यः कश्चिद्वैष्णवो लोके मिथ्याचारो ऽप्यनाश्रमी / पुनाति सकलांल्लोकान्सहस्रांशुरिवोदितः

Transliteration

yaḥ kaścidvaiṣṇavo loke mithyācāro 'pyanāśramī / punāti sakalāṃllokānsahasrāṃśurivoditaḥ

Translation

यः कश्चिद्वैष्णवो लोके मिथ्याचारोऽप्यनाश्रमी। पुनाति सकलाँल्लोकान् सहस्रांशुरिवोदितः॥

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कश्चित्: someone/anyone
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (‘someone’)

• वैष्णवः: a Vaishnava (devotee of Vishnu)
• वैष्णवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मिथ्याचारः: one of false conduct
• मिथ्याचारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्या+आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—मिथ्या आचारः (‘false conduct’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Modifier (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवाद-अव्यय (even)

• अनाश्रमी: without an āśrama (non-āśramī)
• अनाश्रमी: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्+आश्रमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक विशेषण (‘without āśrama/without belonging to an order’)

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सकलान्: all/entire
• सकलान्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• लोकान्: worlds/people
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सहस्रांशुः: the thousand-rayed (sun)
• सहस्रांशुः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र+अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्यान्शवः सहस्रम् (‘having a thousand rays’, i.e., the sun)

• इव: like
• इव: Modifier (Comparison/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• उदितः: risen
• उदितः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उद्+√इ ‘to rise/go’, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (‘risen’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiṣṇava identity and devotion possess intrinsic purifying power, even when the devotee’s conduct/āśrama-status is flawed.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of divine grace (anugraha) and the sanctifying potency of sambandha with Bhagavān; bhakti as purifier overriding social/ritual qualification.

Application: Do not despair over imperfections; continue sincere devotion and reform conduct gradually; respect devotees and the uplifting influence of devotional association (satsaṅga).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.227.20: even sinful persons attain supreme place if nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa; Garuda Purana: recurring theme of bhakti’s purifying power

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaishnava
• Surya (thousand-rayed sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaishnava devotion in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even an imperfect Vaiṣṇava has a powerful purifying influence, highlighting bhakti to Viṣṇu as spiritually transformative.

How does this verse relate to dharma and the āśrama system?

It contrasts external social-religious placement (āśrama) with inner devotion, implying that sincere connection to Viṣṇu can confer purification beyond formal status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize sincere devotion and ethical reform: don’t use faults as an excuse to abandon practice, and don’t dismiss devotees solely for lacking formal religious markers.