Shloka 19

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

यः कश्चिद्वैष्णवो लोके मिथ्याचारो ऽप्यनाश्रमी / पुनाति सकलांल्लोकान्सहस्रांशुरिवोदितः

Transliteration

yaḥ kaścidvaiṣṇavo loke mithyācāro 'pyanāśramī / punāti sakalāṃllokānsahasrāṃśurivoditaḥ

Translation

اس دنیا میں جو کوئی ویشنو بھکت ہو—اگرچہ اس کا آچرن جھوٹا ہو اور وہ کسی آشرم میں قائم نہ ہو—تب بھی وہ طلوع ہوتے ہزار کرنوں والے سورج کی طرح تمام لوکوں کو پاک کر دیتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कश्चित्: someone/anyone
• कश्चित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थक (‘someone’)

• वैष्णवः: a Vaishnava (devotee of Vishnu)
• वैष्णवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मिथ्याचारः: one of false conduct
• मिथ्याचारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथ्या+आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—मिथ्या आचारः (‘false conduct’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Modifier (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवाद-अव्यय (even)

• अनाश्रमी: without an āśrama (non-āśramī)
• अनाश्रमी: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्+आश्रमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक विशेषण (‘without āśrama/without belonging to an order’)

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सकलान्: all/entire
• सकलान्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• लोकान्: worlds/people
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सहस्रांशुः: the thousand-rayed (sun)
• सहस्रांशुः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र+अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्यान्शवः सहस्रम् (‘having a thousand rays’, i.e., the sun)

• इव: like
• इव: Modifier (Comparison/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• उदितः: risen
• उदितः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उद्+√इ ‘to rise/go’, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (‘risen’)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiṣṇava identity and devotion possess intrinsic purifying power, even when the devotee’s conduct/āśrama-status is flawed.

Vedantic Theme: Primacy of divine grace (anugraha) and the sanctifying potency of sambandha with Bhagavān; bhakti as purifier overriding social/ritual qualification.

Application: Do not despair over imperfections; continue sincere devotion and reform conduct gradually; respect devotees and the uplifting influence of devotional association (satsaṅga).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.227.20: even sinful persons attain supreme place if nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇa; Garuda Purana: recurring theme of bhakti’s purifying power

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaishnava
• Surya (thousand-rayed sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vaishnava devotion in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that even an imperfect Vaiṣṇava has a powerful purifying influence, highlighting bhakti to Viṣṇu as spiritually transformative.

How does this verse relate to dharma and the āśrama system?

It contrasts external social-religious placement (āśrama) with inner devotion, implying that sincere connection to Viṣṇu can confer purification beyond formal status.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize sincere devotion and ethical reform: don’t use faults as an excuse to abandon practice, and don’t dismiss devotees solely for lacking formal religious markers.