Shloka 26

Devanagari script

इमां कथां य: शृणुयान्नर: सदा पठेत वा द्विजगणमुख्यसंसदि । असंशयं त्रिदिवमियात्‌ स पुण्यभाक्‌ महात्मन: पतगपते: प्रकीर्तनात्‌,जो मनुष्य इस कथाको श्रेष्ठ द्विजोंकी उत्तम गोष्ठीमें सदा पढ़ता अथवा सुनता है, वह पक्षिराज महात्मा गरुडके गुणोंका गान करनेसे पुण्यका भागी होकर निश्चय ही स्वर्गलोकमें जाता है

Transliteration

imāṁ kathāṁ yaḥ śṛṇuyān naraḥ sadā paṭheta vā dvijagaṇamukhyasaṁsadi | asaṁśayaṁ tridivam iyāt sa puṇyabhāk mahātmanaḥ patagapateḥ prakīrtanāt ||

Translation

释迦罗（帝释）说道：“凡人若恒常聆听此传，或在最尊贵的二生贤者大会中诵读之，必得分沾功德；又因称颂大心之鸟王——迦楼罗（Garuḍa）的德行，必无疑得至天界。”

Word by Word

इमाम्this (f.)

कथाम्story, narrative

यःwho

शृणुयात्should hear

नरःman, person

सदाalways

पठेतshould read/recite

वाor

द्विजगणमुख्यसंसदिin the assembly of the foremost group of twice-born (Brahmins)

असंशयम्undoubtedly

त्रिदिवम्heaven (Svarga)

इयात्should go/attain

सःhe

पुण्यभाक्partaker of merit

महात्मनःof the great-souled one

पतगपतेःof the lord of birds (Garuda)

प्रकीर्तनात्from/through the praising (recitation)

Speaker

शक्र उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śakra (Indra)

Tridiva (Svarga, heaven)

Garuḍa (Patagapati, lord of birds)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that attentive hearing or reverent recitation of an uplifting narrative—especially in a learned setting—generates puṇya (merit). Praising the virtues of a noble exemplar like Garuḍa is presented as a spiritually efficacious act leading to svarga (heaven).

What is happening in the narrative?

Indra (Śakra) concludes with a phalaśruti: he declares the spiritual reward for those who listen to or recite the preceding story, stating that celebrating Garuḍa’s greatness grants merit and results in heavenly attainment.