Shloka 18

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

ते वै सदा सारभोक्तार एव ज्ञेयास्त्वतो विष्णुरेको महात्मा / सारांशभोक्ता न तु सर्वस्य भोक्ता भुनक्ति सर्वं त्वविरुद्धशक्तिः

Transliteration

te vai sadā sārabhoktāra eva jñeyāstvato viṣṇureko mahātmā / sārāṃśabhoktā na tu sarvasya bhoktā bhunakti sarvaṃ tvaviruddhaśaktiḥ

Translation

Hãy biết họ luôn là những người chỉ thọ hưởng phần tinh túy. Vì thế, chỉ riêng Viṣṇu là Đại Ngã. Ngài hưởng phần cốt yếu, không phải kẻ nuốt trọn mọi thứ; nhưng Ngài vẫn “hưởng” và nhiếp trì tất cả, vì năng lực của Ngài không bị ngăn ngại, không gì đối nghịch.

Word by Word

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nishcaya (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (indeed)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (always)

• सारभोक्तारः: enjoyers of the essence
• सारभोक्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार-भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (सारं भोक्तारः)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (only/indeed)

• ज्ञेयाः: are to be known
• ज्ञेयाः: Vidhi/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘to be known/recognized’

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu/Nishkarsha (हेतु/निष्कर्ष)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतु/निष्कर्षवाचक अव्यय (therefore/from this)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एकः: one/unique
• एकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सारांशभोक्ता: enjoyer of a portion of the essence
• सारांशभोक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार-अंश-भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सारस्य अंशस्य भोक्ता)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (not)

• तु: but
• तु: Vyatireka (व्यतिरेक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोधार्थक अव्यय (but)

• सर्वस्य: of everything
• सर्वस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भोक्ता: enjoyer
• भोक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुनक्ति: enjoys/consumes
• भुनक्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• अविरुद्धशक्तिः: (he whose) power is unobstructed
• अविरुद्धशक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविरुद्ध-शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अविरुद्धा शक्ति:)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu as the sole Mahātman: not a limited consumer, but the essence-enjoyer (sāra) who nevertheless ‘enjoys’/governs all through unobstructed śakti.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin and sarva-vyāpti: the One pervades all while remaining unconfined; distinction between empirical consumption and metaphysical ‘enjoyment’ (adhiṣṭhāna/niyantṛtva).

Application: Shift identity from ‘I am the enjoyer’ to ‘I am sustained within the Lord’s order’; practice offering and remembrance to reduce possessiveness and craving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.14.17 (Hari within); Garuda Purana 3.14.16 (sāra-bhojana ethic)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What does ‘sāra-bhoktā’ (enjoyer of the essence) mean in this Garuda Purana verse?

It indicates limited enjoyers partake only of the ‘essence’ (a portion or outcome), whereas the Supreme (Vishnu) is uniquely capable of pervading and governing all without limitation.

How does this verse describe Vishnu’s relationship to the world?

It presents Vishnu as the one Mahात्मा whose power is unobstructed: He is not a finite consumer of worldly objects, yet He encompasses and governs all existence through irresistible divine potency.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat pleasures and achievements as partial and temporary ‘essences,’ and cultivate devotion and ethical living with the awareness that the Supreme order (Vishnu’s aviruddha-śakti) ultimately governs all outcomes.