Shloka 22
Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority
सर्वत्र मुख्यस्त्वधिकोन्यतोपि स एव नम्यो न च शङ्कराद्याः / नमन्ति ये ऽविनयाच्छङ्करं तु विनायकं चण्डिकां रेणुकां च
sarvatra mukhyastvadhikonyatopi sa eva namyo na ca śaṅkarādyāḥ / namanti ye 'vinayācchaṅkaraṃ tu vināyakaṃ caṇḍikāṃ reṇukāṃ ca
அவரே எங்கும் முதன்மை, அனைவரையும் விட உயர்ந்தவர்; வணங்கத் தக்கவர் அவரே, சங்கரர் முதலியோர் அல்லர். பணிவின்மையும் தெளிவின்மையும் கொண்டு சங்கரன், விநாயகன், சண்டிகை, ரேணுகை ஆகியோரையே (உயர்ந்தவரென) வணங்குவோர் பரமேஸ்வரனை அறியார்।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)
Concept: Paratva-niścaya: Viṣṇu alone is supreme and the proper ultimate object of praṇāma; misdirected ultimacy stems from lack of discernment and humility.
Vedantic Theme: Eka-īśvara-vāda (one supreme Lord) and the need for viveka in choosing the highest refuge.
Application: Cultivate discernment (viveka) and humility (vinaya): honor many forms, but keep the ultimate allegiance to the highest principle you accept as supreme; avoid ego-driven sectarian contempt.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: doctrinal declaration within discourse
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.23 (reframing other deities as Vaiṣṇavas)
FAQs
This verse stresses that ultimate reverence belongs to the Supreme alone; treating other deities as the highest is presented as a mistake in spiritual discernment.
It functions as direct instruction from Vishnu to Garuda on correct theological orientation—placing the Supreme above all subsidiary divine forms.
Maintain respectful reverence for all deities while keeping one’s ultimate devotion and spiritual goal anchored in the Supreme, avoiding confusion about what is final versus supportive in practice.