Shloka 13

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

नान्यस्य श्रवणं हि स्यात्पुराणं वेदसंमितम् / वदेद्यदि स मूढात्मा कीर्तिहानिमवाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

nānyasya śravaṇaṃ hi syātpurāṇaṃ vedasaṃmitam / vadedyadi sa mūḍhātmā kīrtihānimavāpnuyāt

Translation

వేదసమ్మతమైన ఈ పురాణం అందరికీ వినిపించవలసినది కాదు. మోహగ్రస్తుడు దీనిని అర్హతలేకుండా చెప్పితే అతని కీర్తి హానికలుగుతుంది.

Word by Word

नnot

अन्यस्यof another (person)

श्रवणम्hearing, listening

हिindeed

स्यात्should be

पुराणम्the Purāṇa

वेदसंमितम्commensurate with the Veda

वदेत्should speak

यदिif

सःhe

मूढात्माa deluded person

कीर्तिहानिम्loss of fame

अवाप्नुयात्would obtain, would incur

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Adhikāra (fitness) and maryādā (proper boundaries) in transmitting Veda-aligned Purāṇic knowledge; indiscriminate teaching leads to kīrti-hāni.

Vedantic Theme: Śruti-smṛti-sāmarasya (harmony of Purāṇa with Veda) and the ethical discipline (yama-like restraint) that protects sacred knowledge.

Application: Share sacred teachings with discernment: ensure respectful context, qualified listeners, and right intention; avoid sensationalizing or teaching for vanity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring injunctions on śravaṇa/pravacana with śraddhā and proper adhikāra (general thematic parallel within Purāṇa discourse frames)

Characters & Entities

Vedas

Purana

FAQs

What is the importance of selective recitation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that Veda-consistent Purāṇic teachings should be shared with discernment; indiscriminate exposition to the unfit is considered improper and leads to reputational and dharmic decline for the speaker.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s spiritual instruction style?

It frames the text as Veda-approved (veda-saṃmita) and emphasizes adhikāra (fitness/eligibility) for hearing, implying that deeper teachings—often tied to death rites, subtle-body doctrine, and dharma—require a prepared listener.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study and teach sacred material respectfully: choose appropriate settings, ensure the listener’s sincerity, and avoid sensationalizing topics like death rituals or afterlife descriptions for mere curiosity.