Shloka 74

Haristuti-saṅgraha: Devatā–Ṛṣi Praṇāma, Nāma-māhātmya, and Vairāgya from Deha-āsakti

Devanagari script

वह्नेरप्यवरा नित्यं किञ्चिन्मित्राद्गुणाधिकाः / तदनन्तजस्तोत्रं वक्ष्ये शृणु खगेश्वर

Transliteration

vahnerapyavarā nityaṃ kiñcinmitrādguṇādhikāḥ / tadanantajastotraṃ vakṣye śṛṇu khageśvara

Translation

Kahit yaong mas mababa kaysa kay Agni (Apoy) ay, sa ilang antas, laging higit na may mga kabutihan kaysa kay Mitra. Ngayon ay ipahahayag ko ang stotra na isinilang mula kay Ananta—makinig ka, O panginoon ng mga ibon.

Word by Word

• वह्नेः: of Agni (fire-god)
• वह्नेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Modifier (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अप्यर्थक-निपातः (also/even)

• अवराः: inferior, lower
• अवराः: Predicate/Qualifier (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्यम् (अव्यय/नित्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययम्; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of time)

• किञ्चित्: a little, somewhat
• किञ्चित्: Modifier (परिमाण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; परिमाणवाचक-निपातः (somewhat)

• मित्रात्: from Mitra
• मित्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (5th/Ablative), एकवचनम्

• गुणाधिकाः: superior in qualities
• गुणाधिकाः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (गुणैः अधिकाः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (2nd/Accusative), एकवचनम्; निर्देश/सम्बन्ध

• अनन्तजस्तोत्रम्: the hymn of Anantaja
• अनन्तजस्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्तज + स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (अनन्तजस्य स्तोत्रम्)

• वक्ष्ये: I will speak/tell
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुषः (1st person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stotra (hymn) as a potent vehicle of devotion and virtue; attentive listening (śṛṇu) is itself a spiritual act preparing the heart for grace.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as upāya: sound (śabda) and praise as purifiers leading toward steadiness and higher knowledge.

Application: Adopt a regular stotra practice (recite/listen) with attention; treat ‘listening’ as sādhana, not passive consumption.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: narrative transition (teacher addressing Garuḍa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: stotra sections addressed to Garuḍa; Ananta/Śeṣa-linked hymns in Vaiṣṇava contexts (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Mitra
• Ananta
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of the Anantaja Stotra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces the forthcoming “Anantaja-stotra,” signaling a devotional hymn taught by Vishnu as a spiritually potent instruction within the Purana’s dialogue tradition.

How does this verse fit the Garuda Purana’s narrative style?

It functions as a transition: Vishnu addresses Garuda directly (“khageśvara”) and announces the next teaching section in the form of a stotra, a common Purana method for transmitting doctrine through praise-hymns.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach sacred study with attentive listening and disciplined recitation—treat the hymn as a focused practice of remembrance (bhakti) and ethical refinement through cultivating ‘guṇa’ (virtues).