Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

उपसाधको नरः प्रोक्तो यतोतस्तदनन्तरम् / नम्य इत्यच्यते सद्भिस्तारतम्येन सर्वदा

Transliteration

upasādhako naraḥ prokto yatotastadanantaram / namya ityacyate sadbhistāratamyena sarvadā

Translation

అంతవరకు మనిషి ‘ఉపసాధకుడు’ అని చెప్పబడును; ఆ తరువాత సద్జనులు పుణ్యస్థాయిల క్రమానుసారం అతనిని ఎల్లప్పుడూ ‘నమ్యుడు’—అంటే వందనీయుడు—అని పిలుస్తారు.

Word by Word

• उपसाधकः: one who serves/attends (a devotee/attendant)
• उपसाधकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपसाधक (प्रातिपदिक; √साध् (धातु) + उप + ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• नरः: man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रोक्तः: is said/called
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग) ; प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय-विशेषण

• यतः: because/therefore
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कारणार्थक-सम्बन्धबोधक (from which/therefore)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Reference)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial locus-time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; क्रियाविशेषण (immediately/afterwards)

• नम्यः: worthy to be bowed to
• नम्यः: Karma (कर्म/Object as predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √नम् (धातु) ; नम्य (कृदन्त, यत्)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण (gerundive/नीयार्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘नमनीयः’ अर्थे

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• अच्यते: is called (as)
• अच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √च्युत्/√च्यु (धातु) + अ (निषेध/नञ्-भाव) ; अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक) + √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘अच्युत’ इति नाम-रूपेण ‘उच्यते’ अर्थे (passive sense implied)

• सद्भिः: by the good (people)
• सद्भिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘सज्जन’ अर्थे

• तारतम्येन: by gradation/according to hierarchy
• तारतम्येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तारतम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रम-भेद/gradation sense

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (always)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tāratamya (gradation) in honor: service/attendance matures into worthiness of reverence as merit increases.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra-bheda (differences of qualification) and saṃskāra-based elevation through right conduct.

Application: Serve sincerely before seeking status; recognize and honor genuine merit without envy, using respectful speech and conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.75-76 (salutations as meritorious; order of reverence); Garuda Purana 3.1.78-79 (special reverence to Vyāsa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Sajjana (the virtuous)

FAQs

What is the importance of being ‘namya’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames ‘namya’ as a higher status than mere service—one becomes worthy of reverent salutation when recognized by the virtuous, reflecting a merit-based spiritual dignity.

How does this verse explain gradation (tāratamya) in dharma?

It states that titles like ‘upasādhaka’ and ‘namya’ are applied according to degrees of worthiness, implying that honor and reverence follow an ethical-spiritual hierarchy rather than being automatic.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Serve sincerely (upasādhaka) and cultivate conduct that makes one genuinely worthy of respect (namya); also, offer reverence discerningly—honoring virtue and integrity.