Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 7

Devotpatti-nirūpaṇa — Hari’s Pūrṇatva

Completeness) and the Ritual Doctrine of Sāra (Essence

Devanagari script

असारांशं नैव भोक्ता हरिस्तु सारान्वक्ष्ये शृणु पक्षीन्द्र सम्यक् / द्राक्षेक्षुसारं नारिकेलस्य सारं चूतस्य सारं पनसस्यापि सारम्

Transliteration

asārāṃśaṃ naiva bhoktā haristu sārānvakṣye śṛṇu pakṣīndra samyak / drākṣekṣusāraṃ nārikelasya sāraṃ cūtasya sāraṃ panasasyāpi sāram

Translation

Hari không thọ dụng điều vô giá trị. Ta sẽ nói về các tinh túy—hãy lắng nghe kỹ, hỡi Chúa tể loài chim (Garuda): tinh túy của nho, tinh túy của mía, tinh túy của dừa, tinh túy của xoài, và tinh túy của mít.

Word by Word

• a-sāra-aṃśam: the non-essential part
• a-sāra-aṃśam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (निषेध) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (non-essential portion)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• eva: at all/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• bhoktā: enjoyer/eater
• bhoktā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuj (धातु) + tṛ (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• sārān: essences
• sārān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• vakṣye: I will tell
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• pakṣi-indra: O king of birds (Garuda)
• pakṣi-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pakṣin (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (king of birds)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: properly)

• drākṣā-ikṣu-sāram: essence of grapes and sugarcane
• drākṣā-ikṣu-sāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: drākṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + ikṣu (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (drākṣā + ikṣu) with sāra as head (elliptic: essence of grapes and sugarcane)

• nārikelasya: of coconut
• nārikelasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārikelā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (usage varies), षष्ठी, एकवचन

• sāram: essence
• sāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• cūtasya: of mango
• cūtasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• sāram: essence
• sāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• panasasya: of jackfruit
• panasasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: panasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (also/even)

• sāram: essence
• sāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Hari) addressing Garuda (Pakshindra/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord accepts/relates to sāra (essence), not asāra (worthless); devotion should offer the best/subtlest.

Vedantic Theme: Sāra-viveka (discrimination of essence vs non-essence); inner offering over mere outer bulk.

Application: Prioritize sincerity, purity, and the ‘best part’ of one’s actions (attention, gratitude, restraint) as the real offering.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: didactic-dialogue setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: bhakti-oriented stutis and teachings on what pleases Viṣṇu (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of sāra (essence) vs. asāra (non-essence) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames a key teaching: the wise (exemplified by Hari) reject what is useless and seek the ‘essence’—a metaphor for choosing what truly nourishes life and dharma over trivial indulgences.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana themes about death and the afterlife?

Preta-kāṇḍa repeatedly emphasizes preparation and right priorities; by urging selection of ‘sāra,’ the text encourages focusing on enduring spiritual merit and clarity rather than transient, ‘asāra’ pursuits.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice discernment: reduce distractions, choose habits that strengthen character and devotion, and prioritize meaningful duties—so life is lived for what is truly ‘sāra’ (essential).