Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

गङ्गादीनां वन्दनं कार्यमेव साष्टाङ्गं वै तुलसीनां तथैव / अश्वत्थानां नमनं कार्यमेव गवादीनां नमनं मानसेन

Transliteration

gaṅgādīnāṃ vandanaṃ kāryameva sāṣṭāṅgaṃ vai tulasīnāṃ tathaiva / aśvatthānāṃ namanaṃ kāryameva gavādīnāṃ namanaṃ mānasena

Translation

గంగా మొదలైన పవిత్ర నదులకు వందనం తప్పక చేయాలి; అలాగే తులసికి సాష్టాంగ ప్రణామం చేయాలి. అశ్వత్థ వృక్షానికి నమస్కరించాలి; గోవులు మొదలైనవాటికి మనసులోనే నమస్కరించాలి.

Word by Word

• गङ्गादीनाम्: of Ganga and others
• गङ्गादीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (गङ्गा) + अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक ‘आदि’ सहित समास; ‘गङ्गा-आदि’ = गङ्गा च अन्ये च (etc.)

• वन्दनम्: salutation, worship
• वन्दनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्दन (प्रातिपदिक; √वन्द् धातु-जन्य भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: to be done, obligatory
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातु-जन्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• स-अष्टाङ्गम्: with eight limbs (prostration)
• स-अष्टाङ्गम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + अष्टाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘स’ = सहित (with)

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• तुलसीनाम्: of tulasi plants
• तुलसीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अश्वत्थानाम्: of peepal trees
• अश्वत्थानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• नमनम्: bowing, salutation
• नमनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमन (प्रातिपदिक; √नम् धातु-जन्य भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: to be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• गव-आदीनाम्: of cows and others
• गव-आदीनाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गव (गो) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘गो-आदि’ = cows and others

• नमनम्: bowing
• नमनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमन (प्रातिपदिक; √नम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मानसेन: mentally, with the mind
• मानसेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; साधन-करण (instrumental)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cultivate reverence toward sanctifying elements of the world—rivers, sacred plants/trees, and cows—through bodily and mental salutations.

Vedantic Theme: Seeing the sacred (īśvara-sambandha) in nature; purity and gratitude as supports for sattva and devotion.

Application: Practice respectful conduct at rivers; care for Tulasī; protect trees; treat animals (especially cows) with compassion; include mental reverence when physical acts are not possible.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (river) / sacred flora-fauna sites

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.40 (aṣṭāṅga praṇāma; reverence practices)

Characters & Entities

• Gaṅgā
• Tulasī
• Aśvattha
• Gauḥ (Cow)

FAQs

What is the importance of bowing to Gaṅgā, Tulasī, Aśvattha, and cows in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as highly meritorious sacred supports of dharma; offering salutations (physically or mentally) is prescribed as a simple, repeatable act of reverence and purification.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on merit and purification?

The Garuda Purana frequently emphasizes that small, disciplined acts—like respectful salutations to sanctifying presences (rivers, Tulasī, sacred trees, cows)—accumulate puṇya and support spiritual well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly offer respectful salutations: greet sacred waters with reverence, bow to Tulasī (as appropriate), respect and protect trees like Aśvattha, and maintain a non-harming, honoring attitude toward cows and other revered life-forms—even if only mentally when physical action isn’t possible.