Shloka 8

Hymns to Nārāyaṇa: Humility, Bhakti, Yoga, and the Guṇas

Devanagari script

निरृतिरुवाच / योगेन त्वय्यर्पितया च भक्त्या संयान्ति लोकाः परमां गतिं च / आसेवया सर्वगुणाधिकानां ज्ञानेन वैराग्ययुतेनदवे

Transliteration

nirṛtiruvāca / yogena tvayyarpitayā ca bhaktyā saṃyānti lokāḥ paramāṃ gatiṃ ca / āsevayā sarvaguṇādhikānāṃ jñānena vairāgyayutenadave

Translation

निरृतिरुवाच— योगेन त्वयि समर्पितया भक्त्या च जनाः परमां गतिं यान्ति। सर्वगुणाधिकानाम् आसेवया, ज्ञान-वैराग्य-युक्तेन, ते दिव्यं पदं प्राप्नुवन्ति।

Word by Word

• निरृतिः: Nirṛti
• निरृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• योगेन: by yoga
• योगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वयि: in you
• त्वयि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सर्वनाम), सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्पितया: offered/dedicated
• अर्पितया: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arpita (कृदन्त, √arp)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भक्त्या विशेषणम् (offered/dedicated)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संयान्ति: attain/go to
• संयान्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• लोकाः: people
• लोकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गतिम् विशेषयति

• गतिम्: goal/state
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• आसेवया: by service/attendance
• आसेवया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-sevā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्व-गुण-अधिकानाम्: of those excelling in all virtues
• सर्व-गुण-अधिकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वैः गुणैः अधिकाः), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; आसेवया इत्यस्य सम्बन्ध (of those superior in all qualities)

• ज्ञानेन: by knowledge
• ज्ञानेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वैराग्य-युतेन: endowed with detachment
• वैराग्य-युतेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + yuta (कृदन्त, √yuj)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वैराग्येन युतम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ज्ञानेन विशेषणम्

• दवे: (uncertain reading)
• दवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: रूपपाठे सन्दिग्धम्; सम्भाव्यं नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (locative) अथवा पाठभेदः; अर्थः अनिश्चितः

Speaker

Nirṛti

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Synthesis of yoga, bhakti, satsanga (service to the virtuous), and jñāna with vairāgya as means to the supreme state.

Vedantic Theme: Jñāna-vairāgya supported by bhakti and sādhusaṅga; grace-oriented liberation where devotion is ‘offered to You’.

Application: Adopt a balanced practice: (1) daily yoga/meditation, (2) dedicate actions and love to Viṣṇu, (3) serve and learn from sādhus, (4) cultivate discernment and dispassion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: transcendent abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis on bhakti to Viṣṇu as liberating; Garuda Purana: praise of sādhusaṅga and kathā-śravaṇa as ‘rasāyana’ for liberation

Characters & Entities

• Nirṛti
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of yoga and bhakti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that disciplined yoga and devotion dedicated to Vishnu are direct means for attaining the supreme destination (paramā gati), indicating liberation is grounded in God-centered practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It presents a liberation-oriented path: devotion to Vishnu, service/association with the virtuous, and knowledge supported by dispassion—implying the soul rises beyond post-death states by inner purification and realization.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Dedicate daily practice (japa, meditation, ethical living) to Vishnu, seek guidance and service opportunities with genuinely virtuous teachers/elders, and cultivate detachment so knowledge becomes transformative.