Shloka 41

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

मेरुमन्दरमात्रो ऽपि राशिः पापस्य कर्मणः / केशवस्मरणादेव तस्य सर्वं विनश्यति

Transliteration

merumandaramātro 'pi rāśiḥ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ / keśavasmaraṇādeva tasya sarvaṃ vinaśyati

Translation

मेरुमन्दरमात्रोऽपि राशिः पापस्य कर्मणः। केशवस्मरणादेव तस्य सर्वं विनश्यति॥

Word by Word

• मेरु-मन्दर-मात्रः: as large as (Mount) Meru and Mandara
• मेरु-मन्दर-मात्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (मेरुश्च मन्दरश्च) + ‘मात्र’ (परिमाणवाचक) = ‘as large as Meru and Mandara’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha/Concession (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि/अल्पार्थ/समुच्चयार्थ

• राशिः: heap/mass
• राशिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पापस्य: of sin
• पापस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• कर्मणः: of action/deed
• कर्मणः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• केशव-स्मरणात्: from/through remembrance of Keshava
• केशव-स्मरणात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक) + स्मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘keśavasya smaraṇam’ → ‘smaraṇāt’ (ablative: because of)

• एव: indeed/alone
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/निश्चयार्थ

• तस्य: of it/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा

• विनश्यति: perishes/is destroyed
• विनश्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smaraṇa of Keśava destroys even vast accumulations of pāpa.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma/smaraṇa as purifier (citta-śuddhi) and as grace-mediated dissolution of karmic bondage; supremacy of Bhagavān over karma.

Application: When guilt or fear arises, practice steady Keśava-smaraṇa (japa, kīrtana, mental repetition), paired with resolve to avoid repetition of harm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic-mountain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent claim that Viṣṇu-nāma at death or in life burns sins and aids the departed

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Meru
• Mandara

FAQs

What is the importance of Keśava-smaraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents remembrance of Keśava (Vishnu) as a supreme purifier that can destroy even an immense accumulation of sinful karma.

How does this verse relate to afterlife teachings in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, practices that reduce pāpa are crucial for the soul’s post-death journey; the verse emphasizes bhakti (Hari-smaraṇa) as a powerful means to lessen karmic burden.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate regular Vishnu remembrance—japa, nāma-smaraṇa, and mindful devotion—alongside ethical living, treating it as daily purification from harmful tendencies and past misdeeds.