Shloka 24

Devanagari script

पञ्च प्रवहणान्ये भवाब्धौ मज्जतां नृणाम् / विष्णुरेकादशी गीता तुलसी विप्रधेनवः

Transliteration

pañca pravahaṇānye bhavābdhau majjatāṃ nṛṇām / viṣṇurekādaśī gītā tulasī vipradhenavaḥ

Translation

సంసారసముద్రమున మునిగిపోతున్న మనుష్యులకు ఇవి ఐదు ప్రవహణములు (ఉద్ధార నౌకలు)—శ్రీ విష్ణుభక్తి, ఏకాదశి వ్రతము, (భగవద్గీత) గీత, తులసి, మరియు బ్రాహ్మణులు-గోవులు (సేవ/దానం).

Word by Word

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: संख्याविशेषणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचनरूपवत् अव्ययप्रयोगः

• प्रवहणानि: ferries/means of crossing
• प्रवहणानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ए: these
• ए: Karta (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (एतानि इत्यर्थे)

• भवाब्धौ: in the ocean of worldly existence
• भवाब्धौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भवस्य अब्धिः)

• मज्जताम्: of those who are sinking
• मज्जताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मज्ज् (धातु) + शतृ → मज्जत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ, present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; ‘नृणाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गीता: the Gītā
• गीता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तुलसी: Tulasī
• तुलसी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विप्रधेनवः: brāhmaṇas and cows
• विप्रधेनवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (विप्राश्च धेनवश्च)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Five conveyances across saṃsāra: Viṣṇu-bhakti, Ekādaśī vrata, Bhagavad Gītā (śāstra), Tulasī, and honoring/gifting to brāhmaṇas and cows—integrating devotion, discipline, study, and sacred service.

Vedantic Theme: Mokṣa through bhakti supported by śāstra-jñāna and sattva-purification; nāma/arcana and vrata as aids to liberation.

Application: Adopt a stable regimen: daily Viṣṇu remembrance, Ekādaśī fasting/observance, regular Gītā reading, Tulasī worship/usage, and ethical support of brāhmaṇas and cow-care (or dharmic charity aligned with these ideals).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-metaphor

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.23 (tulasī/vipra/dhenu/viṣṇu/ekādaśī as ever-sacred)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ekadashi
• Gita
• Tulasi
• Brahmanas
• Cows

FAQs

What is the importance of the “five conveyances” mentioned in this Garuda Purana verse?

They are presented as five reliable spiritual supports that carry a person beyond the dangers of saṃsāra: Viṣṇu-refuge (bhakti), Ekādaśī observance, Gītā study, Tulasi devotion, and merit gained through honoring brāhmaṇas and protecting/serving cows.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and Garuda Purana death-ritual themes?

Preta Kanda emphasizes aids that reduce fear and suffering connected with post-death states; this verse highlights daily-life practices (vows, scripture, devotion, sacred plants, charity) that build puṇya and steadiness, understood as helping one ‘cross’ the perilous ocean of existence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a Viṣṇu-centered practice, observe Ekādaśī according to capacity, read/chant the Gītā regularly, maintain Tulasi for worship, and practice ethical charity—especially supporting learned teachers and compassionate care for cows and vulnerable beings.