Garuda Purana

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.

भाग्यात्मकत्वाच्छ्रीदेव्या नमनं नदनु स्मृतम् । परो नरोत्तमो वा स साधकेशोपि च स्मृतः ॥ ३,१.

Because of the fortune embodied in Shri Devi, her worship is remembered as essential; whether supreme, the best among men, or even among practitioners, she is remembered thus.

अतो नम्यो वायुरपि पुराणादौ द्विजोत्तमाः । भारती वाक्यरूपत्वान्नम्या वायोरनन्तरम् ॥ ३,१.

Therefore, Vayu also is to be worshipped at the beginning of the Purana, O best of twice-born; and Bharati, being the form of speech, is to be worshipped immediately after Vayu.

उपसाधको नरः प्रोक्तो यतोतस्तदनन्तरम् । नम्य इत्यच्यते सद्भिस्तारतम्येन सर्वदा ॥ ३,१.

The person who assists is called 'upasādhaka'; after him, one who is to be worshipped is always declared by the wise according to their order.

अतो व्यासं नमस्कुर्याद्ग्रन्थकर्तृत्वहेतुतः । शौनक उवाच । व्यासस्य नमनं ह्यन्ते कथं कार्यं महात्मनः ॥ ३,१.

Therefore, Vyasa should be saluted because he is the author of the text. Shaunaka said: How should the salutation to the great Vyasa be performed at the end?

अन्ते च वन्दने तस्य कारणं ब्रूहि सुव्रत । सूत उवाच । विष्णोरनन्तरं व्यासनमनं मुख्यमेव हि ॥ ३,१.

At the end, tell the reason for saluting him, O steadfast one. Suta said: After Vishnu, the salutation to Vyasa is indeed the foremost.

हरिरेव यतो व्यासो वाच्यचक्रस्वरूपकः । व्यासो नैव समत्वेन प्रोक्तो भगवतो हरेः ॥ ३,१.

For Hari alone is Vyasa, the form of the spoken wheel; Vyasa is not declared to be equal to the Lord Hari.

तत्रापि कारणं वक्ष्ये सादरेण मुनीश्वराः । व्यासस्तु कश्चन ऋषिः पुराणे तामसे स्मृतः ॥ ३,१.

I will explain the reason for this, O great sages, with respect: Vyasa is remembered as a certain sage in the Tamasic Purana.

इति ज्ञाना वलंबेन दैत्या दैत्यानुगैः समाः । प्रविशन्ति ह्यन्धतम इति त्वन्ते नमस्कृतः ॥ ३,१.

Thus, relying on knowledge, the Daityas, together with their followers, enter utter darkness; therefore, at the end, he is saluted.

यदिदं परमं गोप्यं हृदि धार्यं न संशयः । पराणां नम्यमेवोक्तं प्रतिपाद्यं यतोत्र हि ॥ ३,१.

This is the supreme secret, to be held in the heart without doubt; among the Puranas, what is to be taught here is that which is to be worshipped.

समासव्यासभावाद्धि पराणां तत्प्रतीयते । वास्तवं तं न जानीयुरुपजीव्यो यतो हरिः ॥ ३,१.

Because of the nature of summary and expansion, that is understood among the Puranas; they do not know the true one, for Hari is to be served.