Shloka 25

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

वासुदेवे मनो यस्य जपहोमार्चनादिषु / तस्यान्तरायो मैत्रेय वेवेन्द्रत्वादिकं फलम्

Transliteration

vāsudeve mano yasya japahomārcanādiṣu / tasyāntarāyo maitreya vevendratvādikaṃ phalam

Translation

噢，弥勒耶（Maitreya），若有人以念诵（japa）、火供（homa）、礼拜供奉（arcana）等修持而令心安住于婆苏提婆（Vāsudeva），则即便获得天界主宰之位，如因陀罗之尊（Indrahood）等，也会成为通向至上果报的障碍。

Word by Word

• वासुदेवे: in/with regard to Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचनम्

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• यस्य: of whom/whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• जप: recitation
• जप: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग)

• होम: fire-offering
• होम: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग)

• अर्चन: worship
• अर्चन: Sambandha (Compound member/समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग)

• आदिषु: in (acts) such as japa, homa, worship, etc.
• आदिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘जप-होम-अर्चन-आदि’ इति तत्पुरुष-समासः (…and the like); पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचनम्

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचनम्

• अन्तरायः: obstacle
• अन्तरायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तराय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

• मैत्रेय: O Maitreya
• मैत्रेय: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मैत्रेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचनम्

• व: indeed/and
• व: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: व (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (enclitic ‘indeed/and’)

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• इन्द्रत्वादिकं: (results) like Indra-hood, etc.
• इन्द्रत्वादिकं: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रत्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (इन्द्रत्वम् आदि यस्य तत्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘फलम्’ इति विशेषणम्

• फलम्: fruit/result
• फलम्: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Suta (narrating to Shaunaka and sages), addressing Maitreya as the verse’s interlocutor reference

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even exalted karmic fruits (deva-lordship) can obstruct the paramaphala when the mind is fixed on Vāsudeva; the aspirant should not be diverted by heavenly attainments.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya toward all phala within saṃsāra (including svarga); bhakti/upāsanā aimed at the highest (parama-puruṣārtha) rather than aishvarya.

Application: Perform japa/homa/arcana with niṣkāma-bhāva; explicitly dedicate fruits to Vāsudeva and treat visions, powers, or status as distractions from liberation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.230.24 (steadfast mind in Govinda); Garuda Purana 1.230.28 (Nārāyaṇa-smaraṇa in rites and expiation)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Maitreya
• Indra
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion to Vāsudeva in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that when the mind is truly anchored in Vāsudeva through worship and disciplined practice, the seeker aims beyond all limited rewards toward the highest attainment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies that the soul’s progress is shaped by its deepest aim: if it seeks Vāsudeva (liberation), even exalted heavenly destinies like Indrahood can divert it from the final goal.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do spiritual practice for inner transformation and God-realization rather than status, power, or “results”; treat worldly and even heavenly ambitions as secondary to liberation.