Shloka 57

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

शाकादीनां भक्षणे चैव काले धन्वन्तरिं स्मरेच्चैव नित्यम् / तथा परान्नस्य च भोगकाले स्मरेच्च सम्यक् पाण्डुरङ्गं च विष्णुम्

Transliteration

śākādīnāṃ bhakṣaṇe caiva kāle dhanvantariṃ smareccaiva nityam / tathā parānnasya ca bhogakāle smarecca samyak pāṇḍuraṅgaṃ ca viṣṇum

Translation

शाकादिभक्षणकाले नित्यं धन्वन्तरिं स्मरेत्। तथा परान्नभोगकाले सम्यक् पाण्डुरङ्गं विष्णुं स्मरेत्॥

Word by Word

• शाक-आदीनाम्: of vegetables and the like
• शाक-आदीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: आदि-शब्देन समाहारः; षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘शाकादीनाम्’ = ‘of vegetables etc.’

• भक्षणे: at the eating
• भक्षणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; √भक्ष्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; समये/अवसरे

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक

• काले: at the time
• काले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• धन्वन्तरिम्: Dhanvantari
• धन्वन्तरिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन्तरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; देवतानाम

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/अन्वयार्थक अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• पर-अन्नस्य: of cooked/other food (prepared dish)
• पर-अन्नस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थः (‘परम् अन्नम्’); षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अन्नस्य)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• भोग-काले: at the time of enjoying/eating
• भोग-काले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक; √भुज्) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘भोगस्य कालः’); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण

• पाण्डुरङ्गम्: Panduranga
• पाण्डुरङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डुरङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; देवतानाम

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Associate specific consumptions with specific divine forms: Dhanvantari for śāka (vegetables) and Pāṇḍuraṅga Viṣṇu for parānna-bhoga.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as both healer and enjoyer: the same Brahman/Viṣṇu appears as the physician (Dhanvantari) and as the Lord of devotion (Pāṇḍuraṅga), integrating health and devotion.

Application: When eating vegetables, invoke Dhanvantari for health and moderation; when eating others’ food, maintain inner purity by remembering Viṣṇu (Pāṇḍuraṅga), avoiding judgment and cultivating gratitude.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29.56-60 (progressive food-to-nāma remembrance instructions)

Characters & Entities

• Dhanvantari
• Panduranga
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Dhanvantari and Vishnu while eating in Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches meal-time smaraṇa (remembrance) to sanctify consumption—invoking Dhanvantari for well-being and invoking Viṣṇu (Pāṇḍuraṅga) especially when eating food prepared by others, aligning food, mind, and dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing after-death travel directly, it frames a discipline of constant remembrance and purity in daily acts; such sattvic conduct and devotion are presented in Purāṇic teaching as supports for auspicious karmic outcomes and spiritual steadiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before eating, mentally remember Dhanvantari for health; when eating outside or others’ cooking, consciously remember Viṣṇu/Pāṇḍuraṅga to cultivate gratitude, restraint, and inner purity during consumption.