Shloka 71

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

अतो हि गारुडं मुख्यं पुराणं शास्त्रसंमतम् / गारुडेन समं नास्ति विष्णुधर्मप्रदर्शने

Transliteration

ato hi gāruḍaṃ mukhyaṃ purāṇaṃ śāstrasaṃmatam / gāruḍena samaṃ nāsti viṣṇudharmapradarśane

Translation

پس گارُڑ پران شاستروں سے مُسَلَّم اور پرانوں میں سب سے اہم ہے۔ وِشنو دھرم کی نشان دہی میں گارُڑ کے برابر کوئی نہیں۔

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निष्कर्षवाचक अव्यय (therefore)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), कारण/बलार्थक

• गारुडम्: Gāruḍa
• गारुडम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (पुराणम्)

• मुख्यम्: principal; foremost
• मुख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• शास्त्र-संमतम्: approved by the śāstras
• शास्त्र-संमतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + संमत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्+मन् धातु, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; ‘शास्त्रेण संमतम्’ इति तृतीया-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (पुराणम्)

• गारुडेन: with the Gāruḍa (Purāṇa)
• गारुडेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• समम्: equal; comparable
• समम्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन (adverbial), ‘equally’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• अस्ति: is; exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विष्णु-धर्म-प्रदर्शने: in the exposition of Vishnu’s dharma
• विष्णु-धर्म-प्रदर्शने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘विष्णोः धर्मस्य प्रदर्शनम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-परम्परा

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-dharma is uniquely and authoritatively displayed in the Gāruḍa Purāṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-prāmāṇya and īśvara-dharma: dharma as alignment with the Lord’s order and teaching.

Application: Use the Gāruḍa Purāṇa as a primary reference for Vaiṣṇava conduct, rites, and worldview; evaluate teachings by śāstric consonance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.70 (composition lineage); Garuda Purana 3.1.73-74 (chief among Purāṇas; Hari as goal)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu
• Purana
• Shastra

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Garuḍa Purāṇa as a premier, śāstra-approved source specifically for understanding and practicing Viṣṇu-dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by asserting the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s unmatched authority in Viṣṇu-dharma, it positions the text as a primary guide for right conduct and teachings that support the soul’s welfare and liberation-oriented life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the Garuḍa Purāṇa as a disciplined reference for dharmic living—prioritizing Viṣṇu-centered ethics, devotion, and scripturally grounded practice over hearsay or superstition.