Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

नमो नारायणायेति तस्मै वै मूलरूपिणे / नमस्कृत्य प्रवक्ष्यामि नारायणकथामिमाम्

Transliteration

namo nārāyaṇāyeti tasmai vai mūlarūpiṇe / namaskṛtya pravakṣyāmi nārāyaṇakathāmimām

Translation

“南无那罗延那（Nārāyaṇa）”——敬礼彼至初本源之真形。既已稽首礼敬，我今当宣说这部那罗延那的圣传。

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग; salutation particle

• नारायणाय: to Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; dative singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति सूचक अव्यय; quotative particle

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; pronoun dative singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक अव्यय; emphatic particle

• मूल-रूपिणे: to the one of original form
• मूल-रूपिणे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूलरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक; मूल + रूपिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; adjective in dative agreeing with तस्मै

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed
• नमस्कृत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/त्वान्त); 'having saluted'

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall narrate
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; parasmaipada

• नारायण-कथाम्: the story of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण-कथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायणकथा (प्रातिपदिक; नारायण + कथा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; accusative singular

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative adjective agreeing with कथाम्

Speaker

Suta/Compiler-Narrator (invocatory voice before the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa is the मूलरूप (primal original form); bowing to Him authorizes and sanctifies the teaching.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the मूलकारण (root cause) and ultimate refuge; śabda-pramāṇa begins with surrender (praṇipāta).

Application: Before study or teaching, perform inward and outward namaskāra—align intention, reduce ego, and dedicate learning to the divine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: frequent Nārāyaṇa-namaskāra openings before kathā/adhyāya transitions (structural motif)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Narayana at the start of the Garuda Purana?

This verse sets a sacred frame: the teaching is offered after saluting Nārāyaṇa as the primal source, indicating that the coming instructions are to be heard as dharmic guidance rooted in the Supreme.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it establishes Nārāyaṇa as the foundational reality behind the later descriptions of death, rites, and afterlife; the soul’s journey is ultimately contextualized within devotion and surrender to the primal Lord.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin study, ritual, or ethical decision-making with remembrance and humility—acknowledging a higher dharmic order—so actions are guided by reverence, clarity, and responsibility.