Shloka 17

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

नत्वा विष्णुं श्रियं वायुं भारतीं शेषसंज्ञकम् / द्वैपायनं गुरुं कृष्णं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथामति

Transliteration

natvā viṣṇuṃ śriyaṃ vāyuṃ bhāratīṃ śeṣasaṃjñakam / dvaipāyanaṃ guruṃ kṛṣṇaṃ pravakṣyāmi yathāmati

Translation

我先顶礼毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）、吉祥天女室利（Śrī／Lakṣmī）、风神伐由（Vāyu）、婆罗底（Bhāratī／Sarasvatī）以及名为舍沙（Śeṣa）者，又顶礼岛生者德外帕亚那（Dvaipāyana／Vyāsa）与我的师尊黑天（Kṛṣṇa）；如今我将依我所知而宣说。

Word by Word

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having bowed)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रियम्: Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वायुम्: Vāyu
• वायुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भारतीम्: Bhāratī (Sarasvatī)
• भारतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शेष-संज्ञकम्: the one named Śeṣa
• शेष-संज्ञकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (acc. sg. neut.)

• द्वैपायनम्: Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa)
• द्वैपायनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वैपायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरुम्: the teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृष्णम्: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall expound
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: प्र-

• यथा-मति: according to (my) ability
• यथा-मति: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial: according to one’s understanding)

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) / compiler-voice offering maṅgala (invocation) before the teaching

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Maṅgalācaraṇa: honoring Viṣṇu and allied deities/teachers (Śrī, Vāyu, Bhāratī, Śeṣa, Vyāsa, guru) as the foundation for right teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Guru-paramparā and īśvara-anugraha—knowledge is transmitted through lineage and grace; speech is sanctified by Sarasvatī/Bhāratī.

Application: Begin study/teaching with remembrance of the divine and gratitude to teachers; cultivate humility to reduce error and ego in learning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.18 (Nārāyaṇa-stuti and satya-vākya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shri (Lakshmi)
• Vayu
• Bharati (Saraswati)
• Shesha (Ananta)
• Dvaipayana (Vyasa)
• Krishna

FAQs

What is the importance of an invocation (maṅgalācaraṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows the traditional beginning of a teaching: the speaker bows to key deities and teachers so the discourse proceeds without obstacles and remains faithful to the lineage of transmission.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like death rituals and the soul’s journey?

It functions as a preface: before describing technical topics (karma, preta states, rites), the narrator establishes spiritual authority by honoring Viṣṇu and the guru-paramparā (Vyāsa and Kṛṣṇa).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any serious study or ritual with humility—offer respect to your teachers and to the divine—then proceed carefully “as best as you can,” prioritizing sincerity and accuracy.