Shloka 28

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

ध्यायेन्नारायणं देवं स्नानदानादिकर्मसु / प्रायश्चितेतेषु सर्वेषु दुष्कृतेषु विशेषतः

Transliteration

dhyāyennārāyaṇaṃ devaṃ snānadānādikarmasu / prāyaściteteṣu sarveṣu duṣkṛteṣu viśeṣataḥ

Translation

స్నానము, దానము మొదలైన కర్మలలో దేవ నారాయణుని ధ్యానించవలెను—ప్రత్యేకించి దుష్కృతాలకై చేయు సమస్త ప్రాయశ్చిత్తాలలో।

Word by Word

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object apposition/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; ‘नारायणम्’ इति विशेषणम्/अप्पोजिशन

• स्नान: bathing
• स्नान: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग)

• दान: giving/charity
• दान: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग)

• आदि: etc.
• आदि: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘स्नान-दान-आदि-कर्म’ इति तत्पुरुष-समासः (…and the like); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (समासाङ्ग)

• कर्मसु: in acts/rituals
• कर्मसु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपद ‘स्नानदानादि-कर्म’ (tatpurusha); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• प्रायश्चित्तेषु: in expiations
• प्रायश्चित्तेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रायश्चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• एतेषु: in these
• एतेषु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्; ‘सर्वेषु’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य-सूचक

• सर्वेषु: in all
• सर्वेषु: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्; ‘प्रायश्चित्तेषु’ इत्यादि विशेषणम्

• दुष्कृतेषु: in evil deeds/sins
• दुष्कृतेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकार/अतिशयवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: especially)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Narayana) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditate on Nārāyaṇa during snāna, dāna, and other rites, especially during prāyaścitta for misdeeds; inner remembrance is the purifier that completes ritual.

Vedantic Theme: Karma purified by bhakti: external acts become liberative when joined to īśvara-smṛti; prāyaścitta is not merely legal repair but inner reorientation toward the Lord.

Application: Before and during bathing/charity/rituals, recite Nārāyaṇa-mantra and hold a clear mental image; when making amends for wrongdoing, combine restitution with sincere remembrance and resolve.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.230.25 (ritual practices like japa/homa/arcana oriented to Vāsudeva)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on Narayana during prayashchitta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that remembrance/meditation of Nārāyaṇa should accompany all expiatory acts, making atonement spiritually grounded rather than merely procedural.

How does this verse relate to karma and the removal of sins (duṣkṛta)?

It links remedial actions like bathing and charity with inner devotion, indicating that purification of karma is strengthened by God-centered contemplation, especially when addressing misdeeds.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

While doing daily cleansing, charity, or any corrective practice after wrongdoing, consciously remember Nārāyaṇa and align the act with sincere ethical reform.