Garuda Purana

ततः परं विष्णुपुराणमाहुस्ततः परं गारुडसंज्ञकं च । त्रीण्येव मुख्या नि कलौ नृणां तु तथा विशेषो गारुडे किञ्चिदस्ति ॥ ३,१.

After that, the Viṣṇu Purāṇa is said to be next, and then the one called Gāruḍa; these three alone are principal for people in the Kali age, though there is some special distinction in the Gāruḍa.

शृणुध्वं वै तं विशेषं च विप्रास्त्र्यंशैर्युक्तं गारुडाख्यं पुराणम् । आद्यांशं वै कर्मकाण्डं वदन्ति द्वितीयांशं धर्मकाण्डं तमाहुः ॥ ३,१.

Hear now, O brāhmaṇas, that special distinction: the Purāṇa called Gāruḍa is composed of three sections; the first section is called the karma portion, the second is known as the dharma portion.

तृतीयांशं ब्रह्मकाण्डं वदन्ति तेषां मध्ये त्वन्तिमोयं वरिष्ठः । तृतीयांशश्रवणात्पुण्यमाहुस्तुल्यं पुण्यं भागवतस्य विप्राः ॥ ३,१.

The third section is called the brahma portion; among these, the last is the most excellent. The brāhmaṇas declare that hearing the third section brings merit equal to that of the Bhāgavata.

तृतीयांशे पठिते वेदतुल्यं फलं भवेन्नात्र विचार्यमस्ति । तृतीयांशश्रवणादेव विप्राः फलं प्रोक्तं पठतोप्यर्थमेवम् ॥ ३,१.

When the third section is recited, the result is equal to that of the Veda—there is no doubt about this; even by hearing the third section, O brāhmaṇas, the fruit is declared to be as such, and even more by reciting it.

तृतीयांशश्रवणादर्थतश्च पुण्यं चाहुः पठतो वै दशांशम् । ततो वरं मत्स्यपुराणमाहुस्ततो वरं कूर्मपूराणमाहुः ॥ ३,१.

By hearing or understanding the third section, it is said that one gains merit equal to one-tenth of reciting it. After that, the Matsya Purāṇa is considered superior, and after that, the Kūrma Purāṇa is said to be better.

तथैव वै वायुपुराणमाहुस्त्रीण्येव चाहुः सात्त्विकानीति लोके । तत्रापि किञ्चिद्वेदितव्यं भवेच्च पुराणषट्के सत्त्वरूपे मुनीन्द्राः ॥ ३,१.

In the same way, they say there are three Sāttvika Purāṇas according to the Vāyu Purāṇa; yet, in the world, some also say so. Even among these, something further should be understood; for in the six Purāṇas, O great sages, the quality of sattva is present.

सत्त्वाधमे मात्स्यकौर्मे तथाहुर्वायु चाहुः सात्त्विकं मध्यमं च । विष्णोः पुराणं भागवतं पुराणं सत्त्वोत्तमं गारुडं चाहुरार्याः ॥ ३,१.

Of the Sāttvika Purāṇas, the Matsya and Kūrma are considered to be of lower sattva, and the Vāyu is said to be of middling sattva. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa, the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, and the Gāruḍa Purāṇa are declared by the noble ones to be of the highest sattva.

स्कान्दं पाद्मं वामनं वै वराहं तथाग्रेयं भविष्यं पर्वसृष्टौ । एतान्याहू राजसानीति विप्रास्तत्रैकदेशः सात्त्विकस्तामसश्च ॥ ३,१.

The Skanda, Padma, Vāmana, Varāha, Agni, and Bhaviṣya Purāṇas are said by the learned to be Rājasa; among these, some portions are Sāttvika and some Tāmasa.

रजः प्राचुर्याद्राजसानीति च हुः श्राव्याणि नैतानि मुमुक्षुभिः सदा । तेषां मध्ये सात्त्विकांशाश्च संति तेषां श्रुतेर्गारुडीयं फलं च ॥ ३,१.

Because of the predominance of rajas, they are called Rājasa; these are not always to be heard by those seeking liberation. Among them, there are Sāttvika portions, and for them, the fruit of hearing is equal to half that of the Gāruḍa Purāṇa.

ब्रह्माण्डलैङ्ग्ये ब्रह्मवैवर्तकं वै मार्कंण्डेयं ब्राह्ममादित्यकं च । एतान्या हुस्तामसानीति विप्रास्तत्रैकदेशः सात्त्विको राजसश्च ॥ ३,१.

The Brahmāṇḍa, Liṅga, Brahmavaivarta, Mārkaṇḍeya, Brāhma, and Āditya Purāṇas are said by the learned to be Tāmasa; among these, some portions are Sāttvika and some Rājasa.

श्राव्याणि नैतानि मनुष्यलोके तत्त्वेच्छुभिस्तामसानीत्यतो हि । तेषु स्थिताः सात्त्विकांशा मुनीन्द्रास्तेषां श्रुतिर्गारुडैकाङ्घ्रितुल्या ॥ ३,१.

These Tāmasa Purāṇas are not to be heard in the world of men by those who desire truth; yet, within them, O great sages, there are Sāttvika portions, and among them, the Gāruḍa Purāṇa is considered equal to a single foot in merit.

अल्पान्युपपुराणानि वदन्त्यष्टादशानि च । विष्णुधर्मोतरं चैव तन्त्रं भागवतं तथा ॥ ३,१.

They speak of the minor Purāṇas as being eighteen in number: Viṣṇudharmottara, Tantra, and also the Bhāgavata.

तत्त्वसारं नारसिंहं वायुप्रोक्तं तथैव च । तथा हंसपुराणं च षडेतानि मुनीश्वराः ॥ ३,१.

Tattvasāra, Nārasiṃha, that which is spoken by Vāyu, and likewise the Haṃsa Purāṇa—these six are declared by the great sages.

सात्त्विकान्येव जानीध्वं प्रायशो नात्र संशयः । एतेषां श्रवणादेव गारुडार्धफलं श्रुतम् ॥ ३,१.

Know these to be mostly Sāttvika; there is no doubt in this. By merely hearing these, one attains half the fruit of the Gāruḍa Purāṇa.

भविष्योत्तरनामानं बृहन्नारदमेव च । यमनारदसंवादं लघुनारदमेव च ॥ ३,१.

The Bhaviṣyottara, Bṛhannārada, the dialogue of Yama and Nārada, and the Laghunārada are also named.

विनायकपुराणं च बृहद्ब्रह्माण्डमेव च । एतानि राजसान्याहुः श्रवणाद्भुक्तरुत्तमा ॥ ३,१.

The Vināyaka Purāṇa and the Bṛhadbrahmāṇḍa are called Rājasa; by hearing them, one attains excellent enjoyment.

गारुडात्पादतुल्यं च फलं चाहुर्मनीषिणः । पुराणं भागवतं शैवं नन्दिप्रोक्तं तथैव च ॥ ३,१.

The wise say that the fruit from these is equal to a quarter of the Gāruḍa Purāṇa. The Bhāgavata Purāṇa, the Śaiva Purāṇa, and that spoken by Nandi are also mentioned.

पाशुपत्यं रैणुकं च भैरवं च तथैव च । एतानि तामसान्याहुर्हरितत्त्वार्थवेदिनः ॥ ३,१.

The Pāśupatya, Raiṇuka, and Bhairava Purāṇas are likewise said by those who know the essence of Hari to be Tāmasa.

एतेषां श्रवणाद्विप्रागारुडाङ्घ्यर्ध्मेव च । सर्वेष्वपि पुराणेषु श्रेष्ठं भागवतं स्मृतम् ॥ ३,१.

By hearing these, O brāhmaṇas, one attains half the merit of the Gāruḍa Purāṇa; yet, among all the Purāṇas, the Bhāgavata is remembered as the best.

वेदैस्तुल्य सम पाठे श्रवणे च तदर्धकम् । अर्थतः श्रवणे चास्य पुण्यं दशगुणं स्मृतम् ॥ ३,१.

Reciting or hearing it is equal to the Vedas, and hearing it is half as meritorious. In meaning, hearing it is said to be ten times more meritorious.

वक्तुः स्याद्द्विगुणं पुण्यं व्याख्यातुश्च तथाधिकम् । अनन्तवेदैःसाम्यमाहुर्महान्तः भारान्महत्त्वाद्भारतस्यापि विप्राः ॥ ३,१.

For the one who recites it, the merit is double, and for the one who explains it, the merit is even greater. The great ones say that it is equal to countless Vedas, and the learned declare it to be even greater than the Mahābhārata because of its greatness.

वेदोभ्योस्य त्वर्थतश्चाधिकत्वं वदन्ति बै विष्णुरहस्यवेदिनः ॥ ३,१.

Those who know the secret of Viṣṇu say that, in meaning, it surpasses both the Vedas.

तत्र श्रेष्ठां गीतिकामाहुरार्यास्तथैव विष्णोर्नामसाहस्रक च । तयोस्तत्र श्रवणाद्भारतस्य दशाधिकं फलमाहुर्महान्तः ॥ ३,१.

Among these, the noble ones declare the Gītikā and the thousand names of Viṣṇu to be the best. By hearing these, the great ones say, the fruit is ten times that of the Bhārata.

दैत्याः सर्व विप्रकुलेषु भूत्वा कृते युगे भारते षट्सहस्र्याम् । निष्कास्य कांश्चिन्नवनिर्मितानां निवेशनं तत्र कुर्वन्ति नित्यम् ॥ ३,१.

The Daityas, having appeared among all Brahmin families in the Krita age, in the six-thousandth year of Bharata, expel some of the newly created ones and always establish their residence there.

मत्वा हरिं भगवान्व्यासरूपी चक्रे तदा भागवतं पुराणम् । तथा समाख्याय च वैष्णवं तत्ततः परं गारुडाख्यं स चक्रे ॥ ३,१.

Thinking of Hari, the Lord, Vyasa assumed that form and composed the Bhagavata Purana; likewise, he narrated the Vaishnava Purana, and thereafter he created the Garuda Purana.

अतो हि गारुडं मुख्यं पुराणं शास्त्रसंमतम् । गारुडेन समं नास्ति विष्णुधर्मप्रदर्शने ॥ ३,१.

Therefore, the Garuda Purana is the foremost Purana, esteemed by the scriptures; nothing equals the Garuda in revealing the Dharma of Vishnu.

यथा सुराणां प्रवरो जनार्दनो यथायुधानां प्रवरः सुदर्शनम् । यथाश्वमेधः प्रवरः क्रतूनां छिन्नेषु भक्तेषु तथैव रुद्रः ॥ ३,१.

Just as Janardana is the chief among the gods, Sudarshana among weapons, Ashvamedha among sacrifices, and Rudra among those whose devotion has been severed, so it is.

नदीषु गङ्गा जलजेषु पद्ममच्छिन्नभक्तेषु तथैव वायुः । तथा पुराणेषु च गारुडं च मुख्यं तदाहुर्हरितत्त्वदर्शने ॥ ३,१.

Among rivers, the Ganga; among aquatic plants, the lotus; among those whose devotion is broken, Vayu; likewise, among the Puranas, Garuda is said to be the foremost in revealing the truth of Hari.

गारुडाख्यपुराणे तु प्रतिपाद्यो हरिः स्मृतः । अतो हरिर्नमस्कार्यो गम्यो योग्यो हरिः स्मृतः ॥ ३,१.

In the Purana called Garuda, Hari is to be taught and remembered; therefore, Hari is to be worshipped, approached, and regarded as fit for yoga.