Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

तत्कथाश्रवणे प्रीतिरश्रुनेत्राङ्गविक्रियाः / येन सर्वात्मना विष्णौ भक्त्या भावो निवेशितः

Transliteration

tatkathāśravaṇe prītiraśrunetrāṅgavikriyāḥ / yena sarvātmanā viṣṇau bhaktyā bhāvo niveśitaḥ

Translation

聆听主之圣传则生欢喜；双目含泪，肢体因信爱而颤动——由此以全身心将情意安住于毗湿奴，凭藉巴克提而归依。

Word by Word

• तत्कथाश्रवणे: in hearing His stories
• तत्कथाश्रवणे: Adhikarana (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + कथा (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘तस्य कथायाः श्रवणे’ (in hearing His stories)

• प्रीतिः: joy; love
• प्रीतिः: Karta/Predicate complement (quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अश्रु: tears
• अश्रु: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• नेत्र: eyes
• नेत्र: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• अङ्ग: limbs; body
• अङ्ग: Compound member
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद)

• विक्रियाः: transformations; reactions
• विक्रियाः: Karta/Predicate complement (signs)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; ‘विकार/परिवर्तन’

• येन: by whom; whereby
• येन: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (by whom/whereby)

• सर्वात्मना: with the whole self
• सर्वात्मना: Karana (Instrument/Mode)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सर्वः आत्मा यस्य/सर्वात्मा’ → ‘सर्वात्मना’ (with one’s whole self)

• विष्णौ: in Viṣṇu
• विष्णौ: Adhikarana (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• भक्त्या: by devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• भावः: feeling; disposition
• भावः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• निवेशितः: is placed; is fixed
• निवेशितः: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विश् (धातु) → निवेशित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘स्थापितः/न्यस्तः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhakti-bhāva is evidenced by relish in Hari-kathā and sāttvika transformations, culminating in total absorption in Viṣṇu.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi and ekāgratā through śravaṇa; the heart’s vṛtti becomes Bhagavat-ākāra (God-shaped) by devotion.

Application: Regularly hear/recite Viṣṇu-kathā; allow the mind to soften; cultivate attentive listening that leads to wholehearted remembrance and surrender.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: bhakti-lakṣaṇa sequences around 1.227 (contextual continuity with eightfold devotion and devotee-mahattva)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of hearing Viṣṇu-kathā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents hearing the Lord’s accounts as a direct cause of devotional absorption, where the mind and body naturally turn toward Viṣṇu with love.

How does this verse indicate genuine devotion?

It describes spontaneous inner joy and visible devotional transformations—tears and bodily tremors—as signs that one’s bhāva has become fixed in Viṣṇu through bhakti.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly listen to or recite Viṣṇu-centered teachings with attention and sincerity, aiming for steady inner remembrance rather than merely external display.