Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

इह नित्यक्रियाः कुर्युः स्निग्धा ये वैष्णवास्तु ते / ब्रह्माक्षरं न शृण्वन्वै तया भगवतेरितम्

Transliteration

iha nityakriyāḥ kuryuḥ snigdhā ye vaiṣṇavāstu te / brahmākṣaraṃ na śṛṇvanvai tayā bhagavateritam

Translation

Ngay trong đời này, những Vaiṣṇava hiền hòa và trung tín nên thực hành các nghi lễ bổn phận hằng ngày. Nhưng nếu họ không lắng nghe “thánh âm Brahman” (chân ngôn/giáo huấn) như Bhagavān đã truyền dạy, thì vẫn chưa trọn vẹn điều Ngài đã quy định.

Word by Word

• iha: here (in this world/context)
• iha: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb of place/time)

• nitya-kriyāḥ: daily/regular rites
• nitya-kriyāḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nitya + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘नित्याः क्रियाः’

• kuryuḥ: should do
• kuryuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• snigdhāḥ: affectionate / devoted
• snigdhāḥ: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (vaiṣṇavāḥ/te इति)

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Vaiṣṇavas
• vaiṣṇavāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiṣṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• tu: indeed / but
• tu: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: emphasis/contrast)

• te: they
• te: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• brahma-akṣaram: the sacred syllable/word of Brahman (Vedic syllable)
• brahma-akṣaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘ब्रह्म (वेद) रूपम् अक्षरम्’ / ‘ब्रह्माक्षरम्’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• śṛṇvan: hearing / listening
• śṛṇvan: Kriya (Participial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्यय, present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (te इति बहुवचनार्थे ‘शृण्वन्ति’ अपेक्षितम्—पाठभेद/छन्दः)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle: emphasis)

• tayā: by that
• tayā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to sevā/bhakti etc.)

• bhagavatā: by the Blessed Lord
• bhagavatā: Karta (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• īritam: uttered / enjoined
• īritam: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: īr (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (brahmākṣaram इति): ‘उक्तम्/प्रेरितम्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Bhagavan) instructing Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vaiṣṇavas should perform daily obligatory rites, and must also heed/learn the Brahman-syllable (praṇava) or Brahman-teaching as enjoined by the Lord; devotion is not license for neglect of prescribed śravaṇa and discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of karma and upāsanā: nitya-karma supports purity; śravaṇa of praṇava/Brahman-vidyā stabilizes God-centered realization.

Application: Maintain daily duties (sandhyā, cleanliness, worship) while committing to regular śravaṇa/mantra practice (e.g., praṇava with guidance, or authorized Vaiṣṇava mantra) and scriptural listening.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana’s recurrent insistence that bhakti is supported by śravaṇa and disciplined conduct; Garuda Purana passages integrating nitya-karma with Viṣṇu-upāsanā

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vaishnavas
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of nitya-kriyā (daily obligatory rites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that even devoted Vaiṣṇavas should maintain nitya-kriyā; devotion is strengthened—not replaced—by consistent daily dharmic observance.

What does 'brahmākṣara' mean here, and why must it be heard?

Brahmākṣara indicates the imperishable sacred syllable/teaching (commonly Oṁ and Brahman-centered instruction). Hearing it (śravaṇa) is presented as a Lord-ordained discipline that completes devotional life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a steady daily practice (basic rites, prayer, japa) and add regular śravaṇa—listening to scripture, mantra, or satsang—so devotion remains grounded in disciplined dharma.