Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

मुनीनां शृण्वतां मध्ये पृच्छतः सर्ववाचकम् / यः पठेच्छणुयाद्वापि श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः

Transliteration

munīnāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ madhye pṛcchataḥ sarvavācakam / yaḥ paṭhecchaṇuyādvāpi śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ

Translation

سننے والے مُنیوں کے درمیان، سوال کرنے والے کے جواب میں، جو پورا وعظ پڑھتا ہے—یا جو اسے سنتا ہے، یا یکسو دل سے دوسروں کو سنواتا ہے—وہ ثواب کا حق دار ہوتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• मुनीनाम्: of sages
• मुनीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• शृण्वताम्: of those listening
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) → शृण्वत् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ)

• मध्ये: in the midst
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• पृच्छतः: of the questioner
• पृच्छतः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु) → पृच्छत् (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ)

• सर्ववाचकम्: the all-explaining (text)
• सर्ववाचकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वस्य वाचकम् = that which tells all)

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

• पठेत्: should read
• पठेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शृणुयात्: should listen
• शृणुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• श्रावयेत्: should cause to hear / recite to others
• श्रावयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) णिच् (causative) → श्रावय
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक निपात (or)

• समाहितः: composed, attentive
• समाहितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आ + √धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); विशेषण (यः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śravaṇa–pāṭha–śrāvaṇa (hearing, reciting, enabling hearing) with samāhita-citta yields spiritual merit; communal transmission is itself a sādhanā.

Vedantic Theme: Purifying power of śravaṇa and saṅga; mind’s one-pointedness (ekāgratā) as a prerequisite for assimilating dharma and devotion.

Application: Attend readings with focused mind; recite for others; support dissemination (hosting, sponsoring, sharing recordings) as a devotional act.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: hermitage-assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated phalaśruti on śravaṇa/pāṭha and ‘samāhita’ listening in concluding sections

Characters & Entities

• Munis (sages)

FAQs

What is the importance of hearing (śravaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that merit arises not only from reciting, but also from attentive listening and facilitating others’ listening—especially in a setting of sages and inquiry.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana teachings on dharma and the afterlife?

It frames the transmission of the Purana—recitation, hearing, and teaching—as a dharmic act that prepares the mind and supports right understanding, which is central to its guidance on karma and post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Attend or host focused readings, listen with full attention, and share authentic teachings responsibly—treating study and hearing as disciplined practice, not casual entertainment.