Shloka 14

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

विष्णोराराधनार्थं मे व्रतचर्या पितामह / तमेव गत्वा पृच्छामः सारं यं चिन्तयाम्यहम्

Transliteration

viṣṇorārādhanārthaṃ me vratacaryā pitāmaha / tameva gatvā pṛcchāmaḥ sāraṃ yaṃ cintayāmyaham

Translation

హే పితామహా! నా వ్రతాచరణ విష్ణువుని ఆరాధించుటకే. రండి, ఆయన దగ్గరకు వెళ్లి నేను చింతించే ఆ సారతత్త్వాన్ని అడుగుదాం।

Word by Word

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; genitive ‘of Viṣṇu’

• आराधनार्थम्: for the worship
• आराधनार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराधन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः: आराधनस्य अर्थः/आराधनार्थः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; purpose-accusative

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन (ममादेशः); ‘my’

• व्रतचर्या: vow-observance/discipline
• व्रतचर्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + चर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (तत्पुरुषः: व्रतस्य चर्या), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; subject

• पितामह: O Grandfather (Pitāmaha)
• पितामह: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारण-निपात)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (पूर्वकालक्रिया); absolutive ‘having gone’

• पृच्छामः: we ask
• पृच्छामः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पृच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन

• सारम्: essence
• सारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; object

• यम्: which/whom
• यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; relative pronoun referring to ‘sāram’

• चिन्तयामि: I contemplate
• चिन्तयामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Garuda (Vinātā-putra), addressing his grandfather (likely Kaśyapa Prajāpati)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vrata-caryā and disciplined observance are oriented to Viṣṇu-ārādhana; truth is sought through direct divine consultation (darśana + praśna).

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana leading to sākṣātkāra (direct realization) through devotion and disciplined life.

Application: Align spiritual disciplines with a clear goal; combine practice (vrata) with inquiry (praśna) and seek guidance from the highest ideal.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pilgrimage/approach

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.12 (Rudra’s Viṣṇu-dhyāna); Garuda Purana 1.2.15 (śaraṇāgati to Viṣṇu with epithets)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Pitāmaha (Grandfather)

FAQs

What is the importance of vrata (vow-discipline) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames vrata as disciplined practice undertaken specifically for Viṣṇu’s worship, implying that vows are meant to purify intent and support spiritual inquiry rather than being merely external ritual.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or spiritual progress?

It emphasizes approaching Viṣṇu to learn the ‘sāra’ (essence), presenting liberation-oriented knowledge as the culmination of ritual discipline—practice leading to direct guidance from the Supreme.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep religious observances purpose-driven—use fasting, vows, and daily discipline to deepen devotion and to seek clarity on core ethical and spiritual principles.