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Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

भक्तिरष्टविधा ह्येषा यस्मिन्म्लेच्छो ऽपि वर्तते / स विप्रेन्द्रो मुनिः श्रीमान्स याति परमां गतिम्

Transliteration

bhaktiraṣṭavidhā hyeṣā yasminmleccho 'pi vartate / sa viprendro muniḥ śrīmānsa yāti paramāṃ gatim

Translation

یہ بھکتی آٹھ قسم کی ہے؛ اگر یہ کسی مِلِیچھ میں بھی پائی جائے تو وہ برہمنوں میں افضل، منی اور بابرکت بن کر پرم گتی کو پہنچتا ہے۔

Word by Word
भक्तिःdevotion
भक्तिः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootभक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
अष्टविधाeightfold
अष्टविधा:
Visheshana (Adjective of bhaktiḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootअष्टन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘अष्ट प्रकारा’ (eightfold)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle)
एषाthis
एषा:
Pratijna/Predicate demonstrative
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; संकेत-सर्वनाम
यस्मिन्in whom
यस्मिन्:
Adhikarana (Locative)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (in whom/wherein)
म्लेच्छःa mleccha (foreigner/outcaste)
म्लेच्छः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootम्लेच्छ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अप्यर्थ (even/also)
वर्ततेexists; is found
वर्तते:
Kriya (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootवृत् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
विप्रेन्द्रःchief among Brahmins
विप्रेन्द्रः:
Pratijna/Predicate nominative
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विप्राणाम् इन्द्रः’ (chief of Brahmins)
मुनिःsage
मुनिः:
Pratijna/Predicate nominative
TypeNoun
Rootमुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
श्रीमान्fortunate; illustrious
श्रीमान्:
Visheshana (Adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessing prosperity)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन
यातिgoes; attains
याति:
Kriya (Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootया (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
परमाम्supreme
परमाम्:
Visheshana (Adjective)
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘गति’ विशेषण
गतिम्state; destination
गतिम्:
Karma (Object)
TypeNoun
Rootगति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eightfold devotion ennobles anyone—even a mleccha—granting saintliness and the supreme destination.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra by inner qualification (bhakti) rather than jāti; grace and devotion as direct means to paramā gati.

Application: Do not gatekeep devotion by birth or background; cultivate the limbs of bhakti consistently; honor sincere practitioners across cultures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.227: sequence on bhakti-lakṣaṇa and devotee supremacy (contextual)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda
M
Mleccha
V
Vipra
M
Muni

FAQs

This verse states that eightfold devotion is so spiritually potent that its presence alone qualifies a person for the highest attainment, regardless of social or birth-based labels.

It presents bhakti as a direct means to the “paramā gati” (supreme destination), implying inner devotion is a decisive factor for the soul’s highest end.

Cultivate steady devotional practice and character; the verse emphasizes sincere devotion over external identity, encouraging inclusive spiritual discipline.

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