Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

शूद्रं वा भगवद्भक्तं निषादं श्वपचं तथा / द्विजजाति समंमन्यो न याति नरकं नरः

Transliteration

śūdraṃ vā bhagavadbhaktaṃ niṣādaṃ śvapacaṃ tathā / dvijajāti samaṃmanyo na yāti narakaṃ naraḥ

Translation

若有人将敬奉薄伽梵的首陀罗，以及尼沙陀，乃至食犬者等贱民，只要他们是主的奉献者，都视同于二次生者；此人不堕地狱。

Word by Word

• śūdram: a Śūdra
• śūdram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• bhagavadbhaktam: a devotee of the Lord
• bhagavadbhaktam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): 'भगवतः भक्तः'

• niṣādam: a Niṣāda (tribal)
• niṣādam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• śvapacam: a dog-cooker (outcaste)
• śvapacam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śvapaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/उपमानार्थक-अव्यय (adverb/particle: 'thus/also')

• dvijajātim: the twice-born caste
• dvijajātim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक) + jāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष: 'द्विजानां जातिः' (the class/caste of the twice-born)

• samam: equal
• samam: Karma (Object-complement/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier)

• manyaḥ: considering (as)
• manyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: man (धातु) + ya (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय) → manya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त-प्रत्यय (present participial adjective sense), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); अर्थ: 'मन्यते इति' (one who considers)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha/Particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• yāti: goes
• yāti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• narakam: to hell
• narakam: Gati/Karma (Destination as object/गति-कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhagavad-bhakti confers spiritual parity; honoring devotees regardless of birth prevents naraka-gati.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-bhāva and bhakti as purifier overriding upādhi (social adjuncts); īśvara-sambandha as the true measure of worth.

Application: Practice devotee-respect (bhakta-sammāna) without caste prejudice; cultivate sangati with sincere devotees and avoid contempt (avajñā) toward them.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Uttara/Preta-kalpa sections): recurring theme of Viṣṇu-bhakti as sin-destroyer and liberator; Garuda Purana: bhakta-nindā as a grave fault (theme-level parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Dvija
• Shudra
• Nishada
• Shvapaca
• Naraka

FAQs

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

The verse places Bhagavān’s devotion as the decisive spiritual criterion, teaching that honoring true devotees—even if socially marginalized—protects one from naraka.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s descriptions of naraka (hell)?

Within a text that details sins and punishments, this verse highlights a dharmic safeguard: refusing contempt and recognizing sincere devotion prevents the karmic slide toward naraka.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat sincere practitioners with respect regardless of birth or community, and cultivate devotion and humility rather than pride in status.