Shloka 10

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

नक्षत्रवद्दृश्यते श्रीनिवासः सदा ऋषीणामपरोक्षो हरिस्तु / स सूर्यवद्दृश्यते श्रीनिवासः संसारिणां वेङ्कटेशः खगेन्द्र

Transliteration

nakṣatravaddṛśyate śrīnivāsaḥ sadā ṛṣīṇāmaparokṣo haristu / sa sūryavaddṛśyate śrīnivāsaḥ saṃsāriṇāṃ veṅkaṭeśaḥ khagendra

Translation

హే ఖగేంద్రా! శ్రీనివాసుడైన హరి ఋషులకు నక్షత్రాలవలె ఎల్లప్పుడూ అపరోక్షంగా, ప్రత్యక్షానుభూతిగా ఉంటాడు; కాని సంసారులకు అదే శ్రీనివాసుడు వెఙ్కటేశుడు సూర్యునివలె (దూరంగా) దర్శనమగును।

Word by Word

• नक्षत्रवत्: like the stars
• नक्षत्रवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नक्षत्र + वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like stars)

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु √दृश्)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि (passive)

• श्रीनिवासः: Śrīnivāsa
• श्रीनिवासः: कर्ता (Karta; passive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नित्यत्ववाचक (always)

• ऋषीणाम्: of sages
• ऋषीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• अपरोक्षः: manifest/directly perceived
• अपरोक्षः: विधेयविशेषण (Predicate adjective to हरिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपरोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक

• स: he
• स: कर्ता (Karta; refers to Śrīnivāsa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (सर्वनाम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूर्यवत्: like the sun
• सूर्यवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial simile)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सूर्य + वत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (like the sun)

• दृश्यते: is seen
• दृश्यते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु √दृश्)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि

• श्रीनिवासः: Śrīnivāsa
• श्रीनिवासः: कर्ता (Karta; passive subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-निवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संसारिणाम्: of worldly beings
• संसारिणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘worldly beings’

• वेङ्कटेशः: Veṅkaṭeśa
• वेङ्कटेशः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेङ्कट-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• खगेन्द्र: O lord of birds (Garuḍa)
• खगेन्द्र: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (khagānām indraḥ)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari) addressing Garuda (Khagendra/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: One reality, many modes of apprehension: ṛṣis have aparokṣa-darśana; saṃsārins perceive through overpowering externality (sun-like), implying distance and glare rather than intimacy.

Vedantic Theme: Ekaṃ sat—bheda in upādhi/adhikāra; aparokṣa-jñāna vs parokṣa (indirect) cognition; mind’s purity determines clarity.

Application: Shift from sensory-dominated religiosity to contemplative seeing; practice meditation, japa, and śāstra-vicāra to move toward aparokṣa awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha-parvata

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.9 (aparokṣa for noble persons); Garuda Purana 3.24.11 (Kali-yuga misperception; stone-only seeing)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari/Śrīnivāsa)
• Garuda (Khagendra)
• Rishis
• Veṅkaṭeśa

FAQs

What does 'aparokṣa' mean in this Garuda Purana verse?

Aparokṣa means direct, immediate realization—Vishnu is not merely inferred or believed in by the seers; He is experientially known to them.

Why does the verse compare the Lord to stars and the sun?

It contrasts modes of perception: for ṛṣis the Lord is steadily and directly known (like stars visible in their proper context), while for saṃsārins He is perceived more as an overwhelming, external spectacle (like the sun).

Practical application of this teaching today?

Cultivate steadiness through devotion, discipline, and contemplation so faith matures into lived, direct awareness—moving from external-only worship to inner realization.