Shloka 2

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

विद्याकीर्तिप्रभालक्ष्मीजयारोग्यादिकारकम् / यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्रुद्र सर्ववित्स दिवं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

vidyākīrtiprabhālakṣmījayārogyādikārakam / yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādrudra sarvavitsa divaṃ vrajet

Translation

یہ تعلیم، شہرت، نورانیت، لکشمی، فتح، صحت وغیرہ کا سبب ہے۔ اے رُدر، جو اسے پڑھے یا سنے وہ سَروَویت ہو کر سُوَرگ کو پہنچتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• विद्याकीर्तिप्रभालक्ष्मीजयारोग्यादिकारकम्: producing learning, fame, splendor, prosperity, victory, health, etc.
• विद्याकीर्तिप्रभालक्ष्मीजयारोग्यादिकारकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्या + कीर्ति + प्रभा + लक्ष्मी + जय + आरोग्य + आदि + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); समाहार-तत्पुरुष/बहुपद-समास: ‘विद्या-कीर्ति-प्रभा-लक्ष्मी-जय-आरोग्य-आदि-कारकम्’ (causing/producing etc.)

• यः: who (whoever)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पठेत्: should read
• पठेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• शृणुयात्: should listen
• शृणुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• सर्ववित्: knower of all
• सर्ववित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘सर्वं वेत्ति’ (knower of all)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• दिवम्: heaven
• दिवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra; includes an invocatory address to Rudra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Phala-śruti: recitation/hearing yields both worldly siddhis (learning, fame, prosperity, health) and post-mortem ascent to heaven; knowledge is framed as a fruit of sacred engagement.

Vedantic Theme: Gradation of fruits: from sāttvika well-being to higher states; ultimately, such fruits can be redirected toward liberation when coupled with detachment.

Application: Establish a regular pāṭha/śravaṇa routine; dedicate merits (puṇya) for inner purification; use gained ‘vidyā’ and ‘kīrti’ ethically, and treat ‘ārogya’ as support for sādhanā rather than mere enjoyment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: celestial realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.240.1 (bhukti-mukti fruit of hearing)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of phala-shruti (benefit statements) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a phala-shruti, affirming that recitation or even listening generates punya and grants both worldly benefits (knowledge, prosperity, health) and the higher fruit of attaining heaven.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

Indirectly: it teaches that merit accrued through sacred hearing and recitation supports an auspicious post-death trajectory, here described as reaching divam (svarga), rather than suffering lower destinations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly recite or listen to the Garuda Purana with attention and ethical intent, treating śravaṇa and pāṭha as daily disciplines that cultivate clarity (vidyā) and merit (puṇya).