Shloka 78

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

अतो व्यासं नमस्कुर्याद्ग्रन्थकर्तृत्वहेतुतः / शौनक उवाच / व्यासस्य नमनं ह्यन्ते कथं कार्यं महात्मनः

ato vyāsaṃ namaskuryādgranthakartṛtvahetutaḥ / śaunaka uvāca / vyāsasya namanaṃ hyante kathaṃ kāryaṃ mahātmanaḥ

ฉะนั้น ด้วยเหตุที่ท่านเป็นผู้รจนาคัมภีร์นี้ พึงนอบน้อมแด่พระวยาสะ ศาวนกะกล่าวว่า “เมื่อถึงบทสรุป ควรกระทำการนอบน้อมแด่มหาตมะวยาสะอย่างไร?”

अतःtherefore
अतः:
Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअतः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore)
व्यासम्Vyāsa
व्यासम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootव्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
नमस्कुर्यात्should bow / should offer obeisance
नमस्कुर्यात्:
Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Root√कृ (धातु) ; नमस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + √कृ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘नमस्करोति’ धात्वर्थे (to make obeisance)
ग्रन्थकर्तृत्वहेतुतःbecause of (his) authorship of the text
ग्रन्थकर्तृत्वहेतुतः:
Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootग्रन्थ + कर्तृत्व + हेतु (प्रातिपदिकानि)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास; पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘हेतुतः’ = पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्यय (because of)
शौनकःŚaunaka
शौनकः:
Karta (कर्ता/Speaker)
TypeNoun
Rootशौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
TypeVerb
Root√वच् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद
व्यासस्यof Vyāsa
व्यासस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootव्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन
नमनम्bowing/obeisance
नमनम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootनमन (प्रातिपदिक; √नम् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियानाम (act of bowing)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निश्चय/कारण-प्रदर्शक निपात (indeed/for)
अन्तेat the end
अन्ते:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (locative adverb): ‘at the end’
कथम्how
कथम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Interrogative)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootकथम् (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (how?)
कार्यम्to be done / should be performed
कार्यम्:
Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
TypeAdjective
Rootकार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ (धातु) + ण्यत्)
Formकृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कर्तव्य’ अर्थे
महात्मनःof the great-souled one
महात्मनः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Śaunaka (narrator/interlocutor)

Concept: Gratitude and reverence to Vyāsa as grantha-kartṛ (compiler/author) is part of proper śāstric etiquette; inquiry into correct end-salutation.

Vedantic Theme: Guru-paramparā and śāstra as pramāṇa: honoring the channel through which knowledge descends.

Application: Acknowledge sources and teachers; conclude study with thanks and respectful remembrance of the lineage (Vyāsa-paramparā).

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Type: forest āśrama/sacrificial grove

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.79 (Vyāsa-namana immediately after Viṣṇu); Garuda Purana 3.1.76 (invocation order at the beginning)

V
Vyāsa
Ś
Śaunaka

FAQs

This verse states that Vyāsa is honored because he is the authorial cause behind the sacred text; saluting him acknowledges the lineage and authority of the Purāṇic tradition.

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it frames the correct devotional and traditional etiquette for transmitting and concluding the teaching, which supports faithful practice of the Purāṇa’s guidance.

Conclude study or recitation by expressing gratitude to the teacher-tradition (Vyāsa and the lineage), reinforcing humility, accuracy in learning, and respect for scripture.