Shloka 17

The Procedure of Worship (Śrīdharapūjā-vidhi)

Devanagari script

श्रेयसां पतये चैव ह्याश्रमाय नमोनमः / नमः श्रेयः स्वरूपाय श्रीकराय नमोनमः

Transliteration

śreyasāṃ pataye caiva hyāśramāya namonamaḥ / namaḥ śreyaḥ svarūpāya śrīkarāya namonamaḥ

Translation

再三礼敬一切吉祥之主，亦礼敬那神圣的归依处（āśrama）。再三礼敬其自性即为至善（śreyas）者，并礼敬赐予室利（śrī）——福富与吉祥者。

Word by Word

• श्रेयसाम्: of welfare/benefits
• श्रेयसाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• पतये: to the lord
• पतये: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphasis)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• आश्रमाय: to the refuge/abode
• आश्रमाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नमोनमः: salutations again and again
• नमोनमः: Sambandha (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-निपात (reduplicated salutation; indeclinable usage)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (salutation)

• श्रेयः: welfare; the good
• श्रेयः: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अत्र समासपूर्वपदम् (श्रेयः-स्वरूपाय)

• स्वरूपाय: to (him whose) nature/form
• स्वरूपाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रीकराय: to the maker of prosperity
• श्रीकराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (श्रियाः करः = maker of prosperity)

• नमोनमः: salutations again and again
• नमोनमः: Sambandha (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-निपात (reduplicated salutation; indeclinable usage)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is both the giver and the very embodiment of śreyas (ultimate good); taking refuge in Him is the true āśraya leading beyond merely worldly prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Śreyas (ultimate good) as God-centered liberation-oriented value; śaraṇāgati as the bridge from preyas to śreyas.

Application: When choosing actions, prioritize śreyas (long-term spiritual good) over preyas (short-term pleasure), anchoring decisions in remembrance of the Lord as refuge.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: āśrama (as spiritual refuge, not a mapped place)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30.16 (śreyaskara); Garuda Purana 1.30.18 (śaraṇya/vareṇya and conclusion)

FAQs

What is the importance of śreyas (the highest good) in Garuda Purana?

This verse treats śreyas as the Lord’s own nature—implying that true welfare and liberation-oriented good arise from devotion to and alignment with the Divine.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying the Lord as both refuge (āśrama) and embodiment of śreyas, it frames the soul’s safe course as taking shelter in the Divine—prioritizing ultimate good over merely pleasant outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a short daily prayer to orient choices toward long-term dharmic good (śreyas) rather than short-term pleasure, and to cultivate gratitude for prosperity used righteously.