Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

अतो हि गारुडं मुख्यं पुराणं शास्त्रसंमतम् / गारुडेन समं नास्ति विष्णुधर्मप्रदर्शने

Transliteration

ato hi gāruḍaṃ mukhyaṃ purāṇaṃ śāstrasaṃmatam / gāruḍena samaṃ nāsti viṣṇudharmapradarśane

Translation

ฉะนั้น คารุฑปุราณะจึงเป็นปุราณะสำคัญยิ่งและเป็นที่รับรองโดยศาสตรา ในการเผยธรรมแห่งพระวิษณุ ไม่มีสิ่งใดเสมอคารุฑปุราณะ

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निष्कर्षवाचक अव्यय (therefore)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), कारण/बलार्थक

• गारुडम्: Gāruḍa
• गारुडम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (पुराणम्)

• मुख्यम्: principal; foremost
• मुख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• शास्त्र-संमतम्: approved by the śāstras
• शास्त्र-संमतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संमत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्+मन् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘शास्त्रेण संमतम्’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (पुराणम्)

• गारुडेन: with the Gāruḍa (Purāṇa)
• गारुडेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• समम्: equal; comparable
• समम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन (adverbial), ‘equally’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अस्ति: is; exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विष्णु-धर्म-प्रदर्शने: in the exposition of Vishnu’s dharma
• विष्णु-धर्म-प्रदर्शने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘विष्णोः धर्मस्य प्रदर्शनम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-परम्परा

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-dharma is uniquely and authoritatively displayed in the Gāruḍa Purāṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-prāmāṇya and īśvara-dharma: dharma as alignment with the Lord’s order and teaching.

Application: Use the Gāruḍa Purāṇa as a primary reference for Vaiṣṇava conduct, rites, and worldview; evaluate teachings by śāstric consonance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.70 (composition lineage); Garuda Purana 3.1.73-74 (chief among Purāṇas; Hari as goal)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Purana
• Shastra

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Garuḍa Purāṇa as a premier, śāstra-approved source specifically for understanding and practicing Viṣṇu-dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by asserting the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s unmatched authority in Viṣṇu-dharma, it positions the text as a primary guide for right conduct and teachings that support the soul’s welfare and liberation-oriented life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the Garuḍa Purāṇa as a disciplined reference for dharmic living—prioritizing Viṣṇu-centered ethics, devotion, and scripturally grounded practice over hearsay or superstition.