Shloka 38

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

अनेक जन्मार्जितपुण्यसंचयात्तद्भर्तारो विष्णुभक्ता भवेयुः / कलौ युगे दुर्लभा विष्णुभक्ता हरेभक्तिर्दुर्लभा सर्वदैव

Transliteration

aneka janmārjitapuṇyasaṃcayāttadbhartāro viṣṇubhaktā bhaveyuḥ / kalau yuge durlabhā viṣṇubhaktā harebhaktirdurlabhā sarvadaiva

Translation

Chỉ nhờ phước đức tích lũy qua nhiều đời nhiều kiếp, con người mới trở thành tín đồ của Viṣṇu. Trong thời Kali, người sùng kính Viṣṇu thật hiếm; và lòng bhakti đối với Hari vốn luôn khó đạt được.

Word by Word

• aneka: many
• aneka: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aneka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Indeclinable adjective used as qualifier; here qualifying janma (neuter) in compound sense 'many'

• janma-arjita-puṇya-saṃcayāt: from accumulated merit earned over many births
• janma-arjita-puṇya-saṃcayāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman + arjita (√arj, क्त) + puṇya + saṃcaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; compound meaning 'from the accumulation of merit earned in many births'

• tad: of that/of her
• tad: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; used as possessive qualifier to bhartāraḥ (in sense 'of her/that')

• bhartāraḥ: husbands
• bhartāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: devotees of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + bhakta (√bhaj, क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'devotees of Viṣṇu'

• bhaveyuḥ: may become/would be
• bhaveyuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• kalau: in Kali (age)
• kalau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• yuge: in the age/era
• yuge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• durlabhāḥ: rare
• durlabhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ

• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: devotees of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-bhaktāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + bhakta (√bhaj, क्त; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• bhaktiḥ: devotion
• bhaktiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• durlabhā: rare
• durlabhā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durlabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with bhaktiḥ

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (अवधारण अव्यय)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-bhakti arises from saṃcita-puṇya across many births; in Kali it is especially rare and thus precious.

Vedantic Theme: daiva-anugraha and puṇya as adhikāra for bhakti; bhakti as the highest human attainment amid saṃsāra.

Application: Treat devotion as a hard-won treasure: cultivate nāma-smaraṇa, satsanga, and steady practice without complacency; value small opportunities for worship in Kali-yuga.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: loka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.39-42 (durlabha-list: kathā, dīkṣā, satsanga, pradakṣiṇā, śālagrāma, sadguru)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hari
• Kali Yuga

FAQs

What is the importance of past-life merit (puṇya) in attaining bhakti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that devotion to Viṣṇu arises from a store of merit accumulated over many births, indicating bhakti is supported by long-term ethical and spiritual cultivation.

Why does the Garuda Purana say Vishnu devotees are rare in Kali Yuga?

The verse emphasizes that in Kali Yuga true Viṣṇu-bhakti is difficult to obtain, implying that distractions and declining dharma make sustained devotion uncommon.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live in a way that builds puṇya—truthfulness, compassion, self-restraint—and pair it with steady Hari-nāma and worship, understanding that consistent practice over time matures into bhakti.