Shloka 14

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

यस्मादेकान्तिनः प्रोक्तास्तद्भागवतचेतसः / प्रियाणामपि सर्वेषां देवदेवस्य सुप्रियः

Transliteration

yasmādekāntinaḥ proktāstadbhāgavatacetasaḥ / priyāṇāmapi sarveṣāṃ devadevasya supriyaḥ

Translation

เพราะเหตุนี้จึงเรียกเขาว่า ‘เอกานติ’ คือผู้มีจิตแนบแน่นในพระผู้เป็นเจ้า แม้เป็นที่รักของคนทั้งปวง ก็ยังเป็นที่รักยิ่งของเทวเทพ (พระเป็นเจ้าเหนือเทพทั้งหลาย)

Word by Word

• यस्मात्: because of which; since
• यस्मात्: Apadana (Cause/source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• एकान्तिनः: exclusive devotees
• एकान्तिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकान्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: are said; are called
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriya (Predicative participle/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र समास-पूर्वपदत्वेन (तद्भागवतचेतसः)

• भागवतचेतसः: those whose minds are fixed on the Lord (Bhagavān)
• भागवतचेतसः: Karta (Apposition to subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः (भागवते चेतः यस्य/येषां—अर्थे)

• प्रियाणाम्: of the dear ones
• प्रियाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• अपि: even; also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवाद/अतिशय-बोधक अव्यय (particle: 'even/also')

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (प्रियाणाम्)

• देवदेवस्य: of the God of gods
• देवदेवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः (देवः देवः = देवदेवः)

• सुप्रियः: very dear; most beloved
• सुप्रियः: Visheshana (Predicate adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (विधेय), एकवचन; उपसर्ग-पूर्वपद (सु=अत्यर्थे)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The ekāntin is defined by bhagavat-cetas (mind absorbed in the Lord) and becomes especially beloved of Devadeva.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as inner absorption (antaḥkaraṇa-niṣṭhā) leading to divine grace; the Lord’s reciprocal love (bhakta-vātsalya).

Application: Train attention toward Bhagavān through daily remembrance; measure progress by reduced distraction and increased compassion/humility rather than external display.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: bhakta-vātsalya themes and praise of single-minded devotion (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhagavan
• Deva-deva

FAQs

What is the importance of ekāntika (single-minded) devotion in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates ekāntika bhakti as the defining mark of true devotees—those whose minds are fixed on Bhagavān—and states that such persons become especially dear to the Supreme Lord.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana’s broader teaching?

By emphasizing God-centered consciousness (bhāgavata-cetasaḥ), it points to devotion as a liberating orientation of the mind that supports righteous living and spiritual progress beyond fear of post-death suffering.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion—daily remembrance, ethical conduct, and sincere worship—so the mind becomes consistently oriented toward the Divine rather than scattered by desires and distractions.