Shloka 64

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

एतेषां श्रवणाद्विप्रागारुडाङ्घ्यर्ध्मेव च / सर्वेष्वपि पुराणेषु श्रेष्ठं भागवतं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

eteṣāṃ śravaṇādviprāgāruḍāṅghyardhmeva ca / sarveṣvapi purāṇeṣu śreṣṭhaṃ bhāgavataṃ smṛtam

Translation

ஓ விப்ரர்களே, இவற்றைச் செவிமடுத்தால்—அதேபோல் ஆண்டவனின் திருவடிகளில் காருட (புராணத்தின்) பாதியைக் கேட்டாலும்—எல்லா புராணங்களிலும் பாகவதமே சிறந்தது என்று நினைவில் கூறப்படுகிறது.

Word by Word

• eteṣām: of these
• eteṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; ‘of these’

• śravaṇāt: from hearing
• śravaṇāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; cause/source

• viprāḥ: O brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural; address

• gāruḍa-aṅghri-ardham: half (the measure) of the Gāruḍa’s ‘foot’
• gāruḍa-aṅghri-ardham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāruḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅghri (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘half of the foot (measure) of the Gāruḍa’ (elliptic comparison)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• sarveṣu: in all
• sarveṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; qualifying purāṇeṣu

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि) = also/even

• purāṇeṣu: among the Purāṇas
• purāṇeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural

• śreṣṭham: best
• śreṣṭham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate adjective

• bhāgavatam: the Bhāgavata (Purāṇa)
• bhāgavatam: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāgavata (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of smṛtam

• smṛtam: is regarded/remembered
• smṛtam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (स्मृ धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; used as predicate ‘is considered/remembered’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra, with address to Brahmins as the audience of transmission)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa as a potent sādhana; even partial hearing of Garuḍa Purāṇa is meritorious, yet Bhāgavata is remembered as the श्रेष्ठ among Purāṇas.

Vedantic Theme: Supremacy of sattva and bhakti-oriented śāstra; śaraṇāgati at the Lord’s feet as the axis of spiritual excellence.

Application: Adopt regular śravaṇa/adhyayana; prioritize Bhāgavata for bhakti cultivation while valuing Garuḍa for dharma and rite-related guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred_symbol

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.62 (comparative phala statement)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmins (Vipras)
• Garuḍa
• Bhāgavata Purāṇa
• Purāṇas

FAQs

What is the importance of śravaṇa (hearing) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights śravaṇa as a direct spiritual means: merely hearing the sacred teaching is presented as efficacious, emphasizing devotion and receptivity rather than only ritual performance.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader message?

Within the Vishnu–Garuḍa dialogue framework, it underscores that transmission of dharma through listening is powerful, and it situates the Garuḍa tradition within the wider Purāṇic landscape by praising the Bhāgavata as supreme.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to or study Purāṇic teachings with devotion (especially Bhāgavata themes of bhakti), even in small portions, as consistent śravaṇa is portrayed as spiritually transformative.