Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

तृतीयांशे पठिते वेदतुल्यं फलं भवेन्नात्र विचार्यमस्ति / तृतीयांशश्रवणादेव विप्राः फलं प्रोक्तं पठतोप्यर्थमेवम्

Transliteration

tṛtīyāṃśe paṭhite vedatulyaṃ phalaṃ bhavennātra vicāryamasti / tṛtīyāṃśaśravaṇādeva viprāḥ phalaṃ proktaṃ paṭhatopyarthamevam

Translation

Khi tụng đọc một phần ba bản văn này, quả phúc đạt được sẽ ngang bằng với quả phúc của Veda—không cần phải nghi ngờ. Hỡi các Bà-la-môn, cũng được tuyên nói rằng chỉ cần nghe một phần ba thôi cũng đạt cùng một quả, như khi tự mình tụng đọc vậy.

Word by Word

• तृतीय-अंशे: in the third part
• तृतीय-अंशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘in/with the third part’

• पठिते: when read
• पठिते: Adhikarana (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध/सप्तमी-absolute)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु) → पठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) used in locative absolute; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘when (it is) read’

• वेद-तुल्यम्: equal to the Veda
• वेद-तुल्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘equal to the Veda’

• फलम्: the result
• फलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भवेत्: would be; becomes
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• विचार्यम्: to be deliberated
• विचार्यम्: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु) → विचार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be considered’

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तृतीय-अंश-श्रवणात्: from hearing the third part
• तृतीय-अंश-श्रवणात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘from hearing the third part’

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• विप्राः: O brahmins
• विप्राः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थ

• फलम्: the result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रोक्तम्: has been declared
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriya (क्रिया-भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘has been stated’

• पठतः: of the reader
• पठतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पठ् (धातु) → पठत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle) used substantively; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘of one who reads’

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle ‘also/even’)

• अर्थम्: meaning; purpose
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Manner (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Phala-śruti: reciting or even hearing one-third yields Veda-equivalent merit; doubt is explicitly dismissed.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-śravaṇa as purificatory karma supporting higher pursuit; accessibility of merit through hearing (śravaṇa) for broader adhikāra.

Application: If full study is not possible, commit to hearing/reciting a substantial portion regularly; cultivate attentive listening as a disciplined act with ethical and spiritual payoff.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.48 (third portion yields Bhāgavata-equal merit)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Vipras (Brahmanas)

FAQs

What is the importance of hearing (śravaṇa) in Garuda Purana according to this verse?

This verse states that hearing even one-third of the text grants the same declared merit as reciting it, emphasizing śravaṇa as a complete spiritual practice.

Does Garuda Purana claim Veda-equivalent merit for partial recitation?

Yes—this verse explicitly says that reciting one-third yields merit equal to the Vedas, and it adds that hearing one-third is also said to give that fruit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If full study is difficult, commit to listening to a substantial portion with attention and reverence; the text itself affirms meaningful spiritual benefit from such disciplined hearing.