Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

ततः परं विष्णुपुराणमाहुस्ततः परं गारुडसंज्ञकं च / त्रीण्येव मुख्या नि कलौ नृणां तु तथा विशेषो गारुडे किञ्चिदस्ति

Transliteration

tataḥ paraṃ viṣṇupurāṇamāhustataḥ paraṃ gāruḍasaṃjñakaṃ ca / trīṇyeva mukhyā ni kalau nṛṇāṃ tu tathā viśeṣo gāruḍe kiñcidasti

Translation

其后，他们宣说《毗湿奴往世书》（Viṣṇu Purāṇa）；再其后，则是名为《迦楼罗往世书》（Gāruḍa／Garuda Purāṇa）者。在迦利时代，对人类而言，唯此三部被视为最为主要；而《迦楼罗往世书》中更具一分特殊的卓异。

Word by Word

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्/ततः-शब्दः; क्रम/अपादानार्थक (thereafter/from that)

• param: next/after that
• param: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative)

• viṣṇu-purāṇam: Viṣṇu Purāṇa
• viṣṇu-purāṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + purāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘विष्णोः पुराणम्’

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• tataḥ: thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (thereafter)

• param: next
• param: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण

• gāruḍa-saṃjñakam: named ‘Gāruḍa’
• gāruḍa-saṃjñakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gāruḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃjñaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गारुड-नामक’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• trīṇi: three
• trīṇi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• eva: only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• mukhyāni: principal
• mukhyāni: Kartṛ-predicative (कर्तृसम्बन्धि विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• kalau: in Kali
• kalau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• nṛṇām: of men
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/however)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (thus/also)

• viśeṣaḥ: a distinction/special feature
• viśeṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• gāruḍe: in the Gāruḍa (Purāṇa)
• gāruḍe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gāruḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन (ग्रन्थनाम्नि)

• kiñcit: somewhat
• kiñcit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kiñcit (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अनिश्चितपरिमाणवाचक अव्यय (somewhat/a little)

• asti: there is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) or Purāṇic narrator describing the relative prominence of Purāṇas in Kali-yuga (contextual attribution within Purāṇa-māhātmya style passages)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kali-yuga, a focused set of purāṇic authorities is recommended as foremost; Garuḍa Purāṇa has a distinctive utility/feature.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra-prāmāṇya adapted to yuga-dharma: selecting efficacious teachings suited to diminished capacity in Kali.

Application: Prioritize a manageable core curriculum of devotional and dharma-oriented texts; use Garuḍa for its distinctive guidance (notably rites, dharma, and brahma-kāṇḍa themes).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.1.47-49 (three parts; special excellence of third; hearing merit)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kali (Kali-yuga)
• Garuda Purana
• Vishnu Purana

FAQs

What is the importance of the Garuda Purana in Kali-yuga according to this verse?

The verse states that in Kali-yuga certain Purāṇas are regarded as foremost for people, and it highlights that the Garuḍa Purāṇa has a particular ‘special distinction,’ implying unique practical relevance.

How does this verse position the Vishnu Purana and Garuda Purana among other scriptures?

It presents an ordering in which the Viṣṇu Purāṇa is praised and then the Garuḍa Purāṇa is named, concluding that only three are considered principal for humans in Kali-yuga, with the Garuḍa having an added distinctive value.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

For practitioners, it supports prioritizing Purāṇic study that gives clear, actionable dharma guidance—especially the Garuḍa Purāṇa for its distinctive practical teachings valued in Kali-yuga.