Shloka 25

Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā

Devanagari script

यस्मिन्दिने श्रवणं नास्ति विष्णोस्तेषां जन्म व्यर्थमाहुः कथायाम् / स्नान जपः पञ्चयज्ञं व्रतं च इष्टापूर्ते कृच्छ्रचान्द्रो च दत्तम्

Transliteration

yasmindine śravaṇaṃ nāsti viṣṇosteṣāṃ janma vyarthamāhuḥ kathāyām / snāna japaḥ pañcayajñaṃ vrataṃ ca iṣṭāpūrte kṛcchracāndro ca dattam

Translation

凡一日不闻毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）之圣妙法谈（kathā），智者便说此生徒然。纵有沐浴净身、持诵真言（japa）、日行五祭（pañca-yajña）、守戒立愿、修作功德（iṣṭa 与 pūrta）、行克里恰与月行（kṛcchra、cāndrāyaṇa）等严峻忏悔苦行，以及布施——若无此听闻，皆成次要。

Word by Word

• यस्मिन्: in which
• यस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• दिने: day
• दिने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• श्रवणम्: hearing/listening
• श्रवणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विष्णोः: of Vishnu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• तेषाम्: of those (people)
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• जन्म: birth/life
• जन्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• व्यर्थम्: vain
• व्यर्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (जन्म)

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• कथायाम्: in the discourse/story
• कथायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जपः: recitation (japa)
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पञ्चयज्ञम्: the five sacrifices (pañca-yajña)
• पञ्चयज्ञम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—पञ्च (संख्या) + यज्ञ (द्विगु)

• व्रतम्: vow/observance
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• इष्टापूर्ते: in (acts of) iṣṭa and pūrta (sacrificial & charitable works)
• इष्टापूर्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इष्ट + आपूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/द्विवचन-रूपे पाठभेदः; अत्र ‘इष्टापूर्ते’ = इष्टे च आपूर्ते च (द्वन्द्व), सप्तमी एकवचन-प्रयोगः ‘इष्टापूर्ते (कर्मसु)’

• कृच्छ्रचान्द्रः: Kṛcchra and Cāndrāyaṇa (penances)
• कृच्छ्रचान्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र + चान्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कृच्छ्रश्च चान्द्रश्च (द्वन्द्व)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय

• दत्तम्: given (as donation)
• दत्तम्: Karta-bhava/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘given/donated’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Without Viṣṇu-kathā-śravaṇa, other religious acts (snāna, japa, pañca-yajña, vrata, iṣṭāpūrta, kṛcchra/cāndrāyaṇa, dāna) lose their highest purpose; śravaṇa is the vital center.

Vedantic Theme: Inner orientation (bhagavad-viṣayatā) as the soul of karma; mere external performance without Bhagavat-sambandha is spiritually barren.

Application: Anchor daily routine with at least a short segment of Viṣṇu-kathā (reading/listening); treat other practices as supportive, not substitutive, for remembrance and hearing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated hierarchy placing Hari-nāma/śravaṇa above expiations and ritual complexity (theme)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-katha śravaṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that without hearing Vishnu’s sacred discourse, life is considered wasted, and even major ritual merits and penances become secondary compared to śravaṇa that nurtures devotion and remembrance.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death in the Preta Kanda context?

In the Preta Kanda’s broader teaching on post-death outcomes, the verse emphasizes inner spiritual alignment—remembering and hearing of Vishnu—as a decisive support beyond external rites, shaping one’s fate more profoundly than mere ritual accumulation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly set aside time for listening to authentic Vishnu-centered scripture/discourses, and let daily rituals, vows, charity, and discipline serve as supports to that remembrance rather than substitutes for it.