Shloka 15

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

भक्तस्वरूपं तव वक्ष्ये खगेन्द्र यो ज्ञानपूर्णः परमे स्निग्ध एव / न च द्वेषैर्बन्धुरो भक्तियुक्तस्तव द्वेषाञ्छृणु वक्ष्ये च सम्यक्

Transliteration

bhaktasvarūpaṃ tava vakṣye khagendra yo jñānapūrṇaḥ parame snigdha eva / na ca dveṣairbandhuro bhaktiyuktastava dveṣāñchṛṇu vakṣye ca samyak

Translation

Hỡi Khagendra, vua của loài chim (Garuda), ta sẽ nói cho ngươi về bản tánh của người sùng kính: người ấy đầy đủ chân tri và có lòng ân cần tối thượng. Một bhakta được trang nghiêm bởi bhakti không kết buộc bằng thù hận. Nay hãy lắng nghe—ta cũng sẽ giảng rõ những dạng thù hận cần tránh.

Word by Word

• bhakta-svarūpam: the nature of a devotee
• bhakta-svarūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + sva-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: bhaktasya svarūpam = nature of a devotee

• tava: to you/of you
• tava: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• vakṣye: I will tell
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• khagendra: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• khagendra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga-indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुष: khagānām indraḥ = lord of birds

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; relative pronoun

• jñāna-pūrṇaḥ: full of knowledge
• jñāna-pūrṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुष: jñānena pūrṇaḥ / jñānasya pūrṇaḥ = full of knowledge

• parame: exceedingly
• parame: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial usage of adjective (क्रियाविशेषणवत्), 'exceedingly/very' (परमम् अर्थे)

• snigdhaḥ: affectionate/kind
• snigdhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: snigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle

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

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• dveṣaiḥ: by/with hatreds
• dveṣaiḥ: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• bandhuraḥ: pleasant/charming (not harsh)
• bandhuraḥ: Predicate adjective (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bandhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• bhakti-yuktaḥ: endowed with devotion
• bhakti-yuktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) / predicate qualifier
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; तत्पुरुष: bhaktyā yuktaḥ = endowed with devotion

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th), Singular

• dveṣān: hatreds/hostilities
• dveṣān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dveṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• śṛṇu: hear/listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular, Parasmaipada

• vakṣye: I will tell
• vakṣye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 1st person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• samyak: properly/fully
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय) meaning 'properly/completely'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A true bhakta is knowledge-filled and deeply affectionate; bhakti is incompatible with hatred-based bonding; hatred types are to be understood and avoided.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as purification and alignment of emotions toward the Divine; transformation of dveṣa into maitri/karuṇā; jñāna integrated with devotion (jñāna-pūrṇa bhakti).

Application: Audit one’s relationships and speech for hatred; practice forgiveness, non-reactivity, and compassionate boundaries; cultivate bhakti with study (svādhyāya) so devotion is informed and steady.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.16 (correct doctrine about Hari and jīva; misguided speculation)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of non-hatred in Garuda Purana bhakti teachings?

This verse presents non-hatred as integral to bhakti: a true devotee is knowledge-filled and affectionate, and does not build relationships or identity through malice or aversion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing knowledge and freedom from hatred, the verse points to inner purification—an essential foundation in Garuda Purana for a favorable course after death and for avoiding harmful karmic tendencies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate devotion with clarity and warmth: practice self-restraint in speech and thought, reduce reactive aversion, and align daily conduct with compassionate, knowledge-based dharma.