Shloka 41

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

मुखप्रक्षालने काले माधवं संस्मरेत्खग / गवां कण्डूयने चैव स्मरेद्गोवर्धनं हरिम्

Transliteration

mukhaprakṣālane kāle mādhavaṃ saṃsmaretkhaga / gavāṃ kaṇḍūyane caiva smaredgovardhanaṃ harim

Translation

โอ้พญานก! เมื่อชำระล้างใบหน้า พึงระลึกถึงมาธวะ; และเมื่อช่วยบรรเทาอาการคันของโค พึงระลึกถึงพระหริผู้ทรงยกโควรรธนะ।

Word by Word

• मुख-प्रक्षालने: in the washing of the face
• मुख-प्रक्षालने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रक्षालन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘मुखस्य प्रक्षालने’

• काले: at the time
• काले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• माधवम्: Mādhava (Viṣṇu)
• माधवम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• खग: O bird (Garuda)
• खग: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• कण्डूयने: in (their) scratching/itching
• कण्डूयने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्डूयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• गोवर्धनम्: Govardhana (as Hari)
• गोवर्धनम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोवर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (विष्णोर्नाम)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integrating Viṣṇu-smaraṇa with nitya-karma (daily routines) and go-sevā.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-smṛti as a purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; karma becomes sāttvika when offered in remembrance.

Application: Link specific moments (washing face; tending cows) with fixed divine names to build uninterrupted japa-like recollection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic/agrarian

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Bhakti/ācāra sections): nāma-smaraṇa as daily discipline; Garuda Purana: go-mahātmyas and tulasī/viṣṇu-bhakti passages (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Madhava
• Hari
• Govardhana
• Cows

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Vishnu during daily actions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that ordinary acts (like washing the face or caring for cows) can be sanctified through smṛti—constant remembrance of Vishnu—turning daily routine into lived dharma and devotion.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on karma and spiritual progress?

By linking remembrance to everyday conduct, the text emphasizes that purification is not only through major rites but also through mindful action; such devotional awareness supports sattvic karma and inner purification central to the Purana’s ethical framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Attach a simple Vishnu-nāma remembrance to routine tasks—e.g., mentally recite “Mādhava” while washing up and recall “Govardhana Hari” while caring for animals—so daily life reinforces devotion and discipline.