Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

इह नित्यक्रियाः कुर्युः स्निग्धा ये वैष्णवास्तु ते / ब्रह्माक्षरं न शृण्वन्वै तया भगवतेरितम्

Transliteration

iha nityakriyāḥ kuryuḥ snigdhā ye vaiṣṇavāstu te / brahmākṣaraṃ na śṛṇvanvai tayā bhagavateritam

Translation

ఇహలో స్నేహభరితులైన వైష్ణవులు నిత్యకర్మలను తప్పక చేయాలి; కానీ భగవాన్ ఆజ్ఞాపించిన బ్రహ్మాక్షరాన్ని (పవిత్ర మంత్ర/ఉపదేశం) వారు వినకపోతే విధి అపూర్ణమవుతుంది.

Word by Word

• iha: here (in this world/context)
• iha: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place/time)

• nitya-kriyāḥ: daily/regular rites
• nitya-kriyāḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘नित्याः क्रियाः’

• kuryuḥ: should do
• kuryuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• snigdhāḥ: affectionate / devoted
• snigdhāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (vaiṣṇavāḥ/te इति)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: emphasis/contrast)

• te: they
• te: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• brahma-akṣaram: the sacred syllable/word of Brahman (Vedic syllable)
• brahma-akṣaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘ब्रह्म (वेद) रूपम् अक्षरम्’ / ‘ब्रह्माक्षरम्’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• śṛṇvan: hearing / listening
• śṛṇvan: Kriya (Participial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (te इति बहुवचनार्थे ‘शृण्वन्ति’ अपेक्षितम्—पाठभेद/छन्दः)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: emphasis)

• tayā: by that
• tayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to sevā/bhakti etc.)

• bhagavatā: by the Blessed Lord
• bhagavatā: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• īritam: uttered / enjoined
• īritam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (brahmākṣaram इति): ‘उक्तम्/प्रेरितम्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Bhagavan) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiṣṇavas should perform daily obligatory rites, and must also heed/learn the Brahman-syllable (praṇava) or Brahman-teaching as enjoined by the Lord; devotion is not license for neglect of prescribed śravaṇa and discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of karma and upāsanā: nitya-karma supports purity; śravaṇa of praṇava/Brahman-vidyā stabilizes God-centered realization.

Application: Maintain daily duties (sandhyā, cleanliness, worship) while committing to regular śravaṇa/mantra practice (e.g., praṇava with guidance, or authorized Vaiṣṇava mantra) and scriptural listening.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana’s recurrent insistence that bhakti is supported by śravaṇa and disciplined conduct; Garuda Purana passages integrating nitya-karma with Viṣṇu-upāsanā

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaishnavas
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of nitya-kriyā (daily obligatory rites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that even devoted Vaiṣṇavas should maintain nitya-kriyā; devotion is strengthened—not replaced—by consistent daily dharmic observance.

What does 'brahmākṣara' mean here, and why must it be heard?

Brahmākṣara indicates the imperishable sacred syllable/teaching (commonly Oṁ and Brahman-centered instruction). Hearing it (śravaṇa) is presented as a Lord-ordained discipline that completes devotional life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a steady daily practice (basic rites, prayer, japa) and add regular śravaṇa—listening to scripture, mantra, or satsang—so devotion remains grounded in disciplined dharma.