Shloka 3

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

शयनार्थमभूदेष तेन कृत्यं हरेर्न तु / सर्वदा हरिदासोहं सर्वदा हरिपूजकः

Transliteration

śayanārthamabhūdeṣa tena kṛtyaṃ harerna tu / sarvadā haridāsohaṃ sarvadā haripūjakaḥ

Translation

此事唯为安卧之故，并非哈利所命之职责。我恒为哈利之仆，亦恒为哈利之礼拜者。

Word by Word

• शयन-अर्थम्: for sleeping
• शयन-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; द्वितीया-एकवचनार्थे अव्ययवत् (for the purpose of sleeping)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfective past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• एषः: this (one)
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (demonstrative pronoun)

• तेन: therefore/by that
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु/Instrumental cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• कृत्यम्: duty/task
• कृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्य (कृदन्त; कृ धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—यत्/तव्यत्-अर्थे (duty/what is to be done), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषण-अव्यय (but/however)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• हरि-दासः: servant of Hari
• हरि-दासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + दास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरेः दासः)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• हरि-पূजकः: worshipper of Hari
• हरि-पূजकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजक (प्रातिपदिक; √पूज् धातोः ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरेः पूजकः)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), speaking in devotion to Lord Vishnu (Hari)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sevā is voluntary and love-driven, not coerced; identity anchored in being Hari-dāsa and Hari-pūjaka.

Vedantic Theme: Kartṛtva-abhimāna reduction: offering agency to Īśvara; nishkāma-bhakti as purifier of ego.

Application: Serve without resentment or sense of compulsion; renew intention: ‘I choose devotion’; maintain daily worship as identity practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring emphasis on Viṣṇu-bhakti as refuge and purifier

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion (bhakti) to Hari in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the speaker’s core identity is continuous service and worship of Hari, presenting bhakti as a constant orientation rather than an occasional ritual act.

How does this verse distinguish between duty (kṛtya) and personal action?

It states that the act in question was done merely for rest and was not mandated as Hari’s prescribed duty, implying that not every action is a religious obligation even for a devotee.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain steady devotion—regular remembrance, service, and worship—while discerning which actions are true obligations versus personal necessities like rest.