Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

व्यास उवाच / शृणु सूत ! प्रवक्ष्यामि पुराणं गारुडं तव / सह नारददक्षाद्यैर्ब्रह्मा मामुक्तवान्यथा

Transliteration

vyāsa uvāca / śṛṇu sūta ! pravakṣyāmi purāṇaṃ gāruḍaṃ tava / saha nāradadakṣādyairbrahmā māmuktavānyathā

Translation

వ్యాసుడు పలికెను—హే సూతా! వినుము; నేను నీకు గారుడ పురాణమును ప్రవచించెదను, నారద-దక్షాదుల సమక్షమున బ్రహ్మ నాకు ఉపదేశించినట్లే।

Word by Word

• vyāsaḥ: Vyāsa
• vyāsaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु; √śru/श्रु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• sūta: O Sūta
• sūta: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative); एकवचन (Singular)

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall expound
• pravakṣyāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु; वच्)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• purāṇam: Purāṇa
• purāṇam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन (Singular)

• gāruḍam: Gāruḍa
• gāruḍam: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gāruḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन (Singular); पुराणस्य विशेषणम्

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakari (Association/सहकारि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (preposition/adverb ‘together with’)

• nārada-dakṣa-ādyaiḥ: with Nārada, Dakṣa, and others
• nārada-dakṣa-ādyaiḥ: Sahakari (Association/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक) + dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्वः (नारदश्च दक्षश्च) + ādi (‘and others’)

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• uktavān: told
• uktavān: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: uktavān (कृदन्त; √vac/वच्)
• Form: क्तवतु (perfective active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (as, in the manner that)

Speaker

Vyasa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parampara-pramana: sacred knowledge is preserved and validated through an unbroken lineage of competent transmitters.

Vedantic Theme: Shastra as a means of knowledge (shabda-pramana) safeguarded by realized seers; harmony of revelation and tradition.

Application: Receive teachings through authentic lineages; preserve integrity in transmission—study, memorize, teach responsibly without distortion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana’s self-attestation of lineage and authority at the outset; later chapters often cite Brahma/Narada traditions for dharma and gati teachings

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Brahma
• Narada
• Daksha

FAQs

What is the importance of the teaching lineage mentioned in the Garuda Purana?

This verse grounds the text in a recognized guru–śiṣya transmission: Brahmā taught Vyāsa, and Vyāsa now teaches Sūta, establishing scriptural authority and continuity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or afterlife teachings?

It functions as an introduction: before afterlife and dharma topics are taught, Vyāsa frames the discourse as an authentic revelation received from Brahmā in a sacred assembly.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred teachings through attentive listening (śravaṇa) and reliable sources/lineages, valuing faithful transmission over speculation.