Shloka 4

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

विनाराधनया देवः सर्वगः परमेश्वरः / आरुरुक्षुमतीनां तु कर्मज्ञानमुदाहृतम्

Transliteration

vinārādhanayā devaḥ sarvagaḥ parameśvaraḥ / ārurukṣumatīnāṃ tu karmajñānamudāhṛtam

Translation

ఆరాధన లేకుండా సర్వవ్యాపి పరమేశ్వరుని నిజమైన ప్రాప్తి కలగదు; అందుకే ఆధ్యాత్మికంగా ఎదగదలచినవారికి కర్మజ్ఞానం, ధర్మబోధ ఉపదేశించబడింది।

Word by Word

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/निपात (particle); अर्थे—विना = without

• ārādhanayā: by worship
• ārādhanayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ārādhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; ‘आराधना’ = worship/propitiation

• devaḥ: the deity
• devaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• sarvagaḥ: all-pervading
• sarvagaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वत्र गच्छति इति)

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (परमः ईश्वरः)

• ārurukṣumatīnām: of those wishing to ascend (spiritually)
• ārurukṣumatīnām: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā + ruh (धातु) → ārurukṣu (कृदन्त) + matī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘आरुरुक्षु’ (desirous to ascend) + ‘मती’ (one having the disposition)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Discourse marker (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) — but/indeed

• karma-jñānam: knowledge of action (karma)
• karma-jñānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karma + jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मविषयकं ज्ञानम्)

• udāhṛtam: is declared
• udāhṛtam: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-ā-√hṛ (धातु) → udāhṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘is declared/said’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Īśvara is truly attained through ārādhana (worship); for aspirants, karma and jñāna are taught as supportive means for ascent.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya and adhikāra: karma-yoga purifies, jñāna illumines, but devotion/worship anchors realization of the all-pervading Lord.

Application: Maintain daily worship (puja/japa) alongside disciplined performance of duty; study and reflect on dharma to steady the mind for higher practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/Dharma sections): recurring emphasis on Viṣṇu-ārādhana as refuge and purifier; Garuda Purana: teachings on karma leading to purification and eligibility for jñāna

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvara

FAQs

What is the importance of worship (ārādhana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without worship/propitiation one does not truly attain the all-pervading Supreme Lord; devotion is presented as a necessary foundation for spiritual attainment.

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

It frames spiritual ascent as requiring karma-jñāna—knowledge of prescribed duties and right action—guided by worship, implying that ethical and ritual discipline supports higher realization.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular worship (prayer, mantra, remembrance) alongside dharmic conduct—doing one’s duties conscientiously and ethically as a disciplined path of inner upliftment.