Shloka 66

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

Devanagari script

संस्कारात्प्रथमं चाहमं गनाभ्यः समावृणे / ओमित्युक्तः पुनर्वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः

Transliteration

saṃskārātprathamaṃ cāhamaṃ ganābhyaḥ samāvṛṇe / omityuktaḥ punarvākyamuvāca madhusūdanaḥ

Translation

Trước hết, theo nghi thức saṃskāra (thánh lễ), ta được các vị tùy tùng thiên giới vây bọc gìn giữ đúng phép. Sau khi xướng “Om”, Madhusūdana (Đức Viṣṇu) lại phán những lời này.

Word by Word

• संस्कारात्: from/after the rite (saṃskāra)
• संस्कारात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative), अव्ययीभूत-प्रयोगः; अर्थः—‘first/at first’

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गणाभ्यः: from the groups/assemblies
• गणाभ्यः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative) बहुवचन (Plural) / चतुर्थी (Dative) बहुवचन—रूपसाम्य; अत्र अर्थतः पञ्चमी (from the groups)

• समावृणे: I choose/select
• समावृणे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + वृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु—वृ (वरणे/चयनार्थे) ‘to choose’

• ओम्: Om
• ओम्: Vacana (वचन/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ओम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रणव (sacred syllable), अव्यय; उद्धरण-शब्द (quoted utterance)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana (वचन/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having been uttered/said
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied passive state)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘having been said/uttered’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• वाक्यम्: speech/words
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मधुसूदनः: Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa)
• मधुसूदनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुसूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (introducing Lord Vishnu/Madhusudana’s speech)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṃskāra and mantra establish sacred order; ‘Om’ as the auspicious preface to divine instruction.

Vedantic Theme: Praṇava as the sonic symbol of Brahman; ritual purity as a support for receiving higher teaching.

Application: Begin study, vows, or worship with centering (praṇava/japa) and create a protected, distraction-free sacred space.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure (saṃskāra space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.19.67 (Madhusūdana’s ensuing assurance)

Characters & Entities

• Madhusudana (Vishnu)
• Om
• Ganas

FAQs

What is the importance of Om in the Garuda Purana’s ritual context?

This verse marks “Om” as the formal invocatory utterance that sanctifies the setting and signals the beginning/continuation of authoritative teaching, linking discourse to sacred rite (saṃskāra).

How does this verse frame the narrative between Vishnu and Garuda?

It functions as a transition line: after ritual sanctification and the utterance of Om, Lord Vishnu (Madhusūdana) resumes speaking—typical of Purāṇic dialogue structure where instruction is introduced with sacred preliminaries.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin serious study, japa, or śrāddha-related recitation with a mindful “Om” and a brief sanctifying intention (saṃkalpa), treating spiritual instruction as a consecrated act rather than casual speech.