Shloka 31

Bhakti-māhātmya: The Marks of the Vaiṣṇava and the Liberating Power of Exclusive Devotion

Devanagari script

न दानैर्विविधैर्दत्तैः पुष्पैर्नैवानुलेपनैः / तोषमेति महात्मासौ यथा भक्त्या जनार्दनः

Transliteration

na dānairvividhairdattaiḥ puṣpairnaivānulepanaiḥ / toṣameti mahātmāsau yathā bhaktyā janārdanaḥ

Translation

至上主阇那尔达那（Janārdana）并非仅因种种布施、花供或香膏涂抹而真正欢喜；唯有以奉爱（bhakti）之心，方能令祂称悦。

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• दानैः: by gifts
• दानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• विविधैः: various
• विविधैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vividha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (दानैः)

• दत्तैः: given
• दत्तैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dā (धाातु) + datta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; विशेषणम् (दानैः)

• पुष्पैः: by flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic/limiting particle)

• अनुलेपनैः: by anointments/pastes
• अनुलेपनैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anulepana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• तोषम्: satisfaction
• तोषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• एति: attains/comes to
• एति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (इ धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महात्मा: the great-souled one
• महात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• असौ: that (person)/he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asau (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यथा: as
• यथा: Sambandha (Comparison/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (as/just as)

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेष्यः (उपमेय/उपमान)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Janardana) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: God is pleased primarily by devotion, not by the mere quantity or variety of external offerings.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-bhāva and bhakti as the direct means; critique of karma-kāṇḍa when divorced from heartfelt surrender.

Application: Prioritize sincere remembrance, prayer, and ethical living as offerings; keep ritual simple but heartfelt; examine motive behind charity and worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa and Dharma sections): repeated emphasis that nāma-smaraṇa and bhakti outweigh ostentatious rites when devoid of faith

Characters & Entities

• Janardana
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of bhakti in the Garuda Purana according to this verse?

This verse states that Lord Janardana is pleased primarily by devotion (bhakti), not merely by external offerings like gifts, flowers, or perfumes.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s path and Garuda Purana teachings?

Garuda Purana repeatedly emphasizes inner dharma and sincere devotion as spiritually decisive; external rites have value, but without bhakti they do not yield the highest divine grace.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform charity and worship, but prioritize sincerity—offer actions with devotion, humility, and ethical conduct rather than relying only on ceremonial display.