Shloka 23

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

नाम्नि संकीर्तिते विष्णोर्यस्य पुंसो न जायते / शरीरं पुलकोद्भासि तद्भवेत्कुणपोपमम्

Transliteration

nāmni saṃkīrtite viṣṇoryasya puṃso na jāyate / śarīraṃ pulakodbhāsi tadbhavetkuṇapopamam

Translation

విష్ణునామ సంకీర్తనం జరుగుతున్నప్పుడు కూడా ఎవరి శరీరంలో రోమాంచం కలగదో, అతని దేహం శవసమానమని భావించాలి.

Word by Word

• नाम्नि: in/at the name
• नाम्नि: Adhikaraṇa (Locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (locative singular)

• संकीर्तिते: when (it is) chanted/praised
• संकीर्तिते: Sambandha (Locative absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), कर्मणि प्रयोगः; लोकेटिव-अब्सोल्यूट (locative absolute: 'when (it is) sung')

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• पुंसः: of a man
• पुंसः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुम्स्/पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन (genitive singular)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation)

• जायते: arises, is produced
• जायते: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (nom./acc. sg.)

• पुलकोद्भासि: shining with horripilation
• पुलकोद्भासि: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुलक (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (pulakena udbhāsi) (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

• तत्: that (body)
• तत्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• भवेत्: would be, may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुणपोपमम्: like a corpse
• कुणपोपमम्: Karma (Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुणप (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (kuṇapasya upamam) (neut. nom./acc. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Somatic sign of bhakti (pulaka/gooseflesh) upon Vishnu-nama indicates inner receptivity; lack of response signals spiritual deadness.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as transformation of antahkarana; the body-mind becomes a vessel for divine remembrance; insensitivity indicates tamas/avidya dominance.

Application: Use nama-kirtana/japa as a diagnostic and remedy: chant attentively, reflect on obstacles (distraction, offenses, cynicism), cultivate humility and satsanga to soften the heart.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: bhakti leads to sin-destruction and moksha (cf. 1.227.24); Garuda Purana: emphasis on Vishnu-nama as refuge (cf. 1.227.25 thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting Vishnu’s name in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Viṣṇu-nāma-saṅkīrtana as a touchstone of living devotion: the heart’s response should manifest as genuine inner stirring, not mere mechanical recitation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing heartfelt devotional response, it implies that spiritual progress is measured by inner transformation (bhakti and sensitivity), which supports the soul’s upliftment beyond purely bodily identity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Chant with attention and reverence; if the mind feels dry, cultivate sincerity through prayer, ethical living, and regular practice rather than treating the divine name as a routine sound.