Garuda Purana — Preta Kalpa, Shloka 24

Tila–Darbha–Maṇḍala in Aūrdhvadaihika: Protection, Eligibility, and the Merit of Salt-Dāna

Devanagari script

विष्णुरेकादशी गीता तुलसीविप्रधेनवः / अपारे दुर्गसंकारे षट्पदी मुक्तिदायिनी

Transliteration

viṣṇurekādaśī gītā tulasīvipradhenavaḥ / apāre durgasaṃkāre ṣaṭpadī muktidāyinī

Translation

Si Viṣṇu, ang Ekādaśī, ang Gītā, ang Tulasī, ang isang brāhmaṇa, at ang isang baka—sa walang hanggan at mahirap tawiring pagsubok ng saṃsāra, ang anim na hakbang na ito ang nagbibigay ng kalayaan (mokṣa).

Word by Word

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• एकादशी: Ekādaśī
• एकादशी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गीता: the Gītā
• गीता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तुलसीविप्रधेनवः: Tulasī, Brahmins, and cows
• तुलसीविप्रधेनवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी + विप्र + धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (तुलसी च विप्राः च धेनवः च)

• अपारे: in the boundless
• अपारे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (दुर्गसंकारे)

• दुर्गसंकारे: in the difficult turmoil (of saṃsāra)
• दुर्गसंकारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग + संकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘दुर्गः संकारः’ (hard-to-cross turmoil)

• षट्पदी: the six-stepped (stanza/means)
• षट्पदी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + पदिन्/पदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (षट्पदानि यस्याः सा)

• मुक्तिदायिनी: granting liberation
• मुक्तिदायिनी: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुक्ति + दायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (षट्पदी); उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मुक्तिं ददाति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Six liberating supports—Viṣṇu, Ekādaśī, the Gītā, Tulasī, brāhmaṇa, and cow—function as ‘steps’ to cross saṃsāra.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-samuccaya: bhakti anchored in śāstra (Gītā), nāma, vrata, and sattvic saṅga/sevā as aids to mokṣa.

Application: Daily: recite/reflect on the Gītā and chant Viṣṇu-nāma; Weekly: observe Ekādaśī; Ongoing: worship with tulasī and practice go-/vipra-sevā (ethical support and reverence).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: symbolic wilderness/fortress-crossing

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana praise of Gītā and Ekādaśī (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ekadashi
• Gita
• Tulasi
• Brahmana
• Cow

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekadashi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists Ekādaśī as one of the six primary liberating supports, implying that observing the vow/fast dedicated to Viṣṇu helps a soul cross the difficult passage of saṃsāra and gain mokṣa-oriented merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

By calling saṃsāra an ‘apāra’ (shoreless) and ‘durga’ (hard to traverse) passage, it frames the soul’s journey as perilous; remembrance of Viṣṇu, devotion (Tulasī), sacred teaching (Gītā), and dharmic supports (brāhmaṇa and cow) are presented as practical ‘steps’ that secure deliverance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep Viṣṇu-nāma on the tongue, observe Ekādaśī as able, study/recite the Gītā, worship with Tulasī, honor and support learned brāhmaṇas, and protect/serve cows—treating these as concrete disciplines that strengthen dharma and a liberation-focused life.