Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

शौनक उवाच / किमर्थं नमनं विष्णोर्ग्रन्थादौ मुनिसत्तम / कर्तव्यं ब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन्कृपया मम सुव्रत

Transliteration

śaunaka uvāca / kimarthaṃ namanaṃ viṣṇorgranthādau munisattama / kartavyaṃ brūhi me brahmankṛpayā mama suvrata

Translation

圣者绍那迦说道：“噢，最胜的牟尼！为何在著作开篇应先向毗湿奴顶礼？噢，可敬的婆罗门，请以慈悲为我开示，噢，具殊胜誓愿者。”

Word by Word

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किम्-अर्थम्: for what purpose
• किम्-अर्थम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: for what purpose?)

• नमनम्: bowing, salutation
• नमनम्: Karma (कर्म/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमन (प्रातिपदिक; नम् धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (gen. sg.)

• ग्रन्थ-आदौ: at the beginning of the text
• ग्रन्थ-आदौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रन्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (loc. sg.)

• मुनि-सत्तम: O best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (voc. sg.)

• कर्तव्यम्: is to be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: कर्तव्य (तव्यत्-प्रत्यय, gerundive) नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (to be done)

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मे: to me / for me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (gen./dat. sg. enclitic)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (revered one)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (voc. sg.)

• कृपया: out of compassion
• कृपया: Hetu (हेतु/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instr. sg.)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (gen. sg.)

• सुव्रत: O one of good vows
• सुव्रत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (voc. sg.)

Speaker

Śaunaka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Maṅgalācaraṇa: beginning a treatise with obeisance to Viṣṇu as the supreme auspicious refuge.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the ultimate āśraya (support) and śāstra-pramāṇa’s intended purport.

Application: Begin study/teaching with praṇāma and remembrance of Viṣṇu to align intention, remove obstacles, and sanctify speech.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue-setting (śāstra-sabhā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.21-23 (answer establishing Viṣṇu’s primacy)

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the importance of offering obeisance to Vishnu at the start of a text in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the practice as a dharmic convention of beginning sacred study with Viṣṇu-namaskāra, seeking auspiciousness, clarity, and right intention before engaging the teaching.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it establishes the proper devotional and scriptural opening—invoking Viṣṇu—through which later teachings (including afterlife doctrine) are to be approached.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before reading or reciting the Garuḍa Purāṇa (or any dharma text), begin with a brief salutation to Viṣṇu to cultivate humility, focus, and a sacred intention.