Shloka 1

Paramparā (Transmission) and Viṣaya-Saṅgraha (Scope) of the Garuḍa Purāṇa

Devanagari script

नाम द्वितीयो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / इति रुद्राब्जजो विष्णोः शुश्राव ब्रह्मणो मुनिः / व्यासो व्यासादहं वक्ष्येहं ते शौनक नैमिषे

Transliteration

nāma dvitīyo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / iti rudrābjajo viṣṇoḥ śuśrāva brahmaṇo muniḥ / vyāso vyāsādahaṃ vakṣyehaṃ te śaunaka naimiṣe

Translation

苏多说道：如是，那位由莲华而生的圣者（梵天）从毗湿奴处听闻此教法，鲁陀罗又从梵天处听闻。毗耶娑从鲁陀罗处听闻，而我从毗耶娑处听闻；如今我将在此奈弥沙之地，为你宣说，噢绍那迦。

Word by Word

• nāma: named; called
• nāma: Sambandha (Apposition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नामार्थक/पदपूरण (particle: 'namely/called')

• dvitīyaḥ: second
• dvitīyaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘अध्यायः’ प्रति

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sūtaḥ: Sūta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः √vac (वचने)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उक्त्यर्थक (quotative: 'thus')

• rudrābjajaḥ: Rudrābjaja (epithet)
• rudrābjajaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + abja (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘रुद्रस्य अब्जात् जातः’/‘रुद्राब्जजः’ (one born from Rudra's lotus; epithet)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• śuśrāva: heard
• śuśrāva: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः √śru (श्रवणे)

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vyāsaḥ: Vyāsa
• vyāsaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vyāsāt: from Vyāsa
• vyāsāt: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative, 5th), एकवचन

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• vakṣye: will speak
• vakṣye: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातुः √vac (वचने)

• aham: I (myself)
• aham: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पुनरुक्ति—बलार्थ)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, मध्यमपुरुष, चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th) एकवचन (enclitic)

• śaunaka: O Śaunaka
• śaunaka: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaunaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• naimiṣe: in Naimiṣa (forest)
• naimiṣe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naimiṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

Speaker

Sūta (Sūta Ugrāśravas), addressing Śaunaka at Naimiṣāraṇya

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guru-śiṣya paramparā as the vehicle of reliable knowledge: Viṣṇu → Brahmā → Rudra → Vyāsa → Sūta → Śaunaka.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa safeguarded by sampradāya; knowledge is preserved through disciplined hearing (śravaṇa) and faithful repetition.

Application: Seek teachings through credible lineages/sources; verify context and transmission; cultivate attentive listening before interpretation or practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-ashrama/sacrificial grove

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.56–1.2.57 (divine commissioning and authority)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Brahmā
• Rudra (Śiva)
• Vyāsa
• Sūta
• Śaunaka
• Naimiṣāraṇya

FAQs

What is the importance of the teaching lineage (paramparā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse establishes an authoritative chain of transmission—Viṣṇu → Brahmā → Rudra → Vyāsa → Sūta—showing the teaching is preserved through recognized sages rather than invented.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not yet describe the soul’s journey; it sets the narrative framework and authority for the forthcoming teachings (often including death rites, afterlife descriptions, and dharma).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach Garuda Purana teachings through reliable tradition and careful study—learning from credible sources and maintaining fidelity to the text’s intended meaning.