Shloka 68

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

तत्र श्रेष्ठां गीतिकामाहुरार्यास्तथैव विष्णोर्नामसाहस्रक च / तयोस्तत्र श्रवणाद्भारतस्य दशाधिकं फलमाहुर्महान्तः

Transliteration

tatra śreṣṭhāṃ gītikāmāhurāryāstathaiva viṣṇornāmasāhasraka ca / tayostatra śravaṇādbhāratasya daśādhikaṃ phalamāhurmahāntaḥ

Translation

అక్కడ ఆర్యులు ‘గీత’ను శ్రేష్ఠ గీతికగా, అలాగే ‘విష్ణు-నామ-సహస్రం’ను కూడా ప్రకటిస్తారు. మహాత్ములు చెబుతారు—ఆ రెండింటిని కేవలం వినడమే భారతం (మహాభారతం) వినడంకన్నా దశగుణ ఫలాన్ని ఇస్తుంది.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there; in that context
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• श्रेष्ठाम्: the best (one)
• श्रेष्ठाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

• गीतिकाम्: the Gītikā (a hymn/recitation)
• गीतिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीतिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आहुः: they have said; they call
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; परोक्ष-प्रयोग)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• आर्याः: the noble ones
• आर्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• नाम-साहस्रकम्: the thousand names (Nāma-sahasra)
• नाम-साहस्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + साहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘नाम्नां साहस्रकम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Locative), द्विवचन; ‘of those two / in those two’

• तत्र: there; in that (case)
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• श्रवणात्: from hearing; by listening
• श्रवणात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; कारणार्थ

• भारतस्य: of the Bhārata (Mahābhārata)
• भारतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (ग्रन्थनाम), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• दश-अधिकम्: tenfold more; ten more
• दश-अधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘दशभिः अधिकम्’ इति तत्पुरुष (अधिक्य)

• फलम्: fruit; result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महान्तः: the great ones; sages
• महान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Among Mahābhārata’s contents, the Bhagavad-Gītā and Viṣṇu-nāma-sahasra are singled out as highest; śravaṇa of these is exceptionally meritorious.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti supported by jñāna: Gītā’s synthesis (karma-yoga, jñāna-yoga, bhakti-yoga) and nāma as direct upāsanā; nāma as accessible Brahman/Īśvara-sādhana.

Application: Regularly hear/recite Gītā and Viṣṇu-sahasranāma with attention; join satsang; integrate teachings into conduct (niṣkāma karma, devotion, remembrance).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred field

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (common): nāma-mahātmyas and Viṣṇu-bhakti praised as swift purifiers; hearing as a primary sādhana.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Gita
• Vishnu Sahasranama
• Mahabharata

FAQs

What is the importance of hearing the Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states they are regarded as the श्रेष्ठ (most excellent) recitations, and that hearing them grants exceptionally high spiritual fruit.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda setting, the text emphasizes śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a powerful support for spiritual upliftment, which is especially relevant when guiding and consoling the departed and the living during post-death rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to or recite the Bhagavad Gita and Vishnu Sahasranama—especially during śrāddha periods or in times of grief—as a focused, devotional practice centered on Viṣṇu.