Shloka 4

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

दक्षनारद मुख्यादिन् ब्रह्म ध्यान्हरिं गतः / मयापि तुभ्यं सूतेन पुराणं कथितं परम्

Transliteration

dakṣanārada mukhyādin brahma dhyānhariṃ gataḥ / mayāpi tubhyaṃ sūtena purāṇaṃ kathitaṃ param

Translation

दक्षनारदमुख्यादिभिः सह ब्रह्मा ध्यानेन हरिं गतः। मयापि सूतेन तुभ्यं परं पुराणं कथितम्।

Word by Word

• दक्ष: Dakṣa
• दक्ष: Karta (Listed subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समुच्चय-निर्देशे (सूच्यते)

• नारद: Nārada
• नारद: Karta (Listed subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समुच्चय-निर्देशे

• मुख्यादीन्: the chief ones and others
• मुख्यादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; 'मुख्य' इत्यादयः (and others like the chief ones)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman / the Absolute
• ब्रह्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ध्यायन्: meditating (on)
• ध्यायन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गतः: gone/attained
• गतः: Kriya (Result state/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartrikarana (Agent-instrument/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

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

• तुभ्यम्: to you
• तुभ्यम्: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• सूतेन: by Sūta
• सूतेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कथितम्: told/narrated
• कथितम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (पुराणम् इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Sūta (Sūta Ugraśravas), speaking as the narrator transmitting the Purāṇa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hari is attained through meditative contemplation supported by satsaṅga; Purāṇic knowledge is preserved by paramparā (Brahmā/Vyāsa/Sūta).

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā leading to realization; the necessity of a reliable teaching lineage for brahma-vidyā and dharma.

Application: Practice daily dhyāna on Hari with guidance from authentic teachers/texts; seek elevating company (satsaṅga) and study in a structured lineage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: assembly/āśrama (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.240.3 (Brahmā speaks after hearing); Garuda Purana 1.240.5 (phala of hearing; Viṣṇu teaches Garuḍa)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Dakṣa
• Nārada
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Sūta

FAQs

What is the importance of Purāṇa transmission through Sūta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Sūta as a trusted transmitter of sacred knowledge, grounding the Garuda Purana’s teaching in an accepted lineage of narration.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or liberation?

It points to dhyāna (meditative contemplation) of Hari as a means to attain Vishnu—implying liberation is achieved through sustained spiritual focus and devotion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a regular meditation practice centered on Vishnu (Hari) and learn scripture through reliable teachers and authentic lineages.