Shloka 48

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

अनर्घरत्नपूजाञ्च कुर्यात्स्वाध्यायमेव च / तमेवोद्दिश्य गोविन्दं ध्यायन्नित्यमतन्द्रितः

Transliteration

anargharatnapūjāñca kuryātsvādhyāyameva ca / tamevoddiśya govindaṃ dhyāyannityamatandritaḥ

Translation

قیمتی جواہرات سے پوجا کرے اور سوادھیائے بھی کرے۔ صرف گووند ہی کو مقصود بنا کر، سستی سے پاک ہو کر، ہمیشہ اُسی کا دھیان کرے۔

Word by Word

• anargha-ratna-pūjām: worship of priceless gems (costly offerings)
• anargha-ratna-pūjām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anargha (प्रातिपदिक) + ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (anargha-ratnānāṃ pūjā); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• svādhyāyam: self-study (Vedic recitation)
• svādhyāyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic: indeed/only)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (demonstrative), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• eva: alone/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (indeed/only)

• uddiśya: having directed (towards)
• uddiśya: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√diś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund): having aimed at/with reference to

• govindam: Govinda
• govindam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhyāyan: meditating
• dhyāyan: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle): पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• atandritaḥ: unwearied/untiring
• atandritaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-tandrita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेध (not lazy); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Combine ratna-pūjā (offering precious gems) with svādhyāya, directing all intention to Govinda; constant, non-negligent meditation is praised.

Vedantic Theme: Eka-niṣṭhā (one-pointedness) and apramāda; external offerings as supports for inner devotion; śāstra-study aligned with upāsanā.

Application: Study sacred texts daily and translate learning into steady meditation; if offering gems is impractical, offer the best available (flowers, lamp, sincerity) while keeping the intention solely on Govinda.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on Viṣṇu-pūjā and svādhyāya as purifying and liberating disciplines; Garuda Purana: apramāda in sādhanā; one-pointed devotion

Characters & Entities

• Govinda

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse pairs svādhyāya with worship, indicating that scriptural recitation/self-study is itself a devotional discipline when dedicated to Govinda.

How does this verse define proper devotion to Govinda?

It emphasizes single-pointed intention—performing acts “for Him alone”—and continuous meditation without laziness or distraction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer your daily worship (simple or elaborate) and a short period of sacred reading/chanting, then consciously dedicate both to Govinda and maintain regular remembrance through the day.