Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

अतः स्नात्वा दिव्यमन्त्रं जपित्वा विसर्जयित्वा विष्णुनिर्माल्यगन्धम् / शुचिर्भूत्वा भागवतं पुराणं संश्रावयेत्सर्ववेत्तापि नित्यम्

Transliteration

ataḥ snātvā divyamantraṃ japitvā visarjayitvā viṣṇunirmālyagandham / śucirbhūtvā bhāgavataṃ purāṇaṃ saṃśrāvayetsarvavettāpi nityam

Translation

因此，沐浴之后，诵持神圣真言，并恭敬安置毗湿奴之尼尔玛利亚（Viṣṇu-nirmālya，圣供遗香）；令身心清净，然后应常令《薄伽梵往世书》得以诵读聆听——纵然自认通达诸学亦当如是。

Word by Word

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (हेतुवाचक-अव्यय: therefore)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), having bathed

• दिव्य-मन्त्रम्: the divine mantra
• दिव्य-मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय (दिव्यः मन्त्रः)

• जपित्वा: having chanted
• जपित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), having recited

• विसर्जयित्वा: having disposed of
• विसर्जयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), having discarded/released

• विष्णु-निर्माल्य-गन्धम्: the smell/fragrance of Vishnu’s offered garlands/remnants
• विष्णु-निर्माल्य-गन्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष chain: विष्णोः निर्माल्यस्य गन्धम्

• शुचिः: pure/clean
• शुचिः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); used predicatively

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), having become

• भागवतम्: the Bhāgavata
• भागवतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa
• पुराणम्: Karma (कर्म; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to भागवतम्

• संश्रावयेत्: should recite/teach (make others hear)
• संश्रावयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + श्रु (धातु) (causative/णिच्: श्रावय)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative sense (to cause to hear)

• सर्व-वेत्‍ता: a knower of all
• सर्व-वेत्‍ता: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of implied person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वेत्ता (कृदन्त, √विद्; agent noun)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि (यः सर्वं वेत्ति सः)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात; even/also)

• नित्यम्: daily/always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purify oneself (snana, mantra) and treat Vishnu’s nirmalya with reverence; regularly arrange/attend Bhagavata Purana recitation even if one is highly learned.

Vedantic Theme: Shravana as primary sadhana; humility (amanitva) as support for knowledge; sanctity of prasada/nirmalya as contact with the divine.

Application: Establish a daily/weekly routine: bath, japa, respectful handling of prasada, and listening/organizing scripture recitation; cultivate learner’s mind regardless of scholarship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on Vishnu-bhakti practices and scriptural hearing as purifiers (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Bhagavata Purana

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity and preparation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes bathing, mantra-japa, and becoming śuci (pure) before arranging sacred recitation, showing that inner and outer purification supports effective śravaṇa (hearing) of Purāṇic wisdom.

Why does the verse recommend hearing the Bhāgavata Purāṇa even for a learned person?

It teaches that devotional listening (saṃśravaṇa) is not replaced by scholarship; regular hearing of the Bhāgavata remains spiritually beneficial even for one who is sarva-vettā (highly learned).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a simple preparatory routine—cleanliness, a short mantra repetition, and focused listening/reading of sacred texts regularly—treating it as a disciplined daily practice rather than an occasional activity.