Garuda Purana

हरिं नारायणं सम्यक्स्तोतुं समुपचक्रिरे । चिन्त्याचिन्त्यगुणे विष्णौ विरुद्धाः संति सद्गुणाः ॥ ३,६.

They began to worship Hari Nārāyaṇa properly; in Viṣṇu, who possesses both conceivable and inconceivable qualities, even opposing virtues exist.

एकैकशोह्यनन्तास्ते तद्गुणानां स्तुतौ मम । क्व शक्तिरिति बुद्ध्या सा व्रीडयावनताब्रवीत् ॥ ३,६.

For each one of your countless qualities, my ability to praise is insignificant; thinking thus, she spoke with her head bowed in humility.

श्रीरुवाच । नतास्मि ते नाथ पदारविन्दं न वेद चान्यच्चरणादृते तव । त्वयीश्वरे संति गुणाः श्रुतास्तु तथाश्रुताः संति च देवदेव ॥ ३,६.

Śrī said: I bow to your lotus feet, Lord; I know nothing except your feet. In you, O God of gods, there are virtues both heard of and unheard of.

सम्यक्सृष्टं स्वायतनं च दत्वा गोविन्द दामोदर मां च पाहि । स्तुत्या मदीयश्च सुखकपूर्णः प्रियो जनो नास्ति तथा त्वदन्यः ॥ ३,६.

Having properly established your own abode, O Govinda, O Dāmodara, protect me. There is no one as dear and fulfilling to me through praise as you.

ब्रह्मोवाच । लक्ष्मीपते सर्वजगन्निवास त्वं ज्ञानसिंधुः क्व च विश्वमूर्ते । अहं क्व चाज्ञस्तव वै शक्तिरस्ति ह्यज्ञोहं वै ह्यल्पशक्तिर्ममास्ति ॥ ३,६.

Brahmā said: O Lord of Lakṣmī, dwelling place of all worlds, you are the ocean of knowledge—where am I, ignorant, and where is your power? I am indeed ignorant, and my power is very small.

लक्ष्म्याश्चैव ज्ञानवैराग्यभक्ति ह्यत्यल्पमद्धा मयि सर्वदैव । तव प्रसादादस्ति जगन्निवास तत्र स्वामित्वं नास्ति विष्णो सदैव ॥ ३,६.

The knowledge, detachment, and devotion of Lakṣmī in me is always very little; by your grace alone, O abode of the universe, it exists—there is never any ownership in that, O Viṣṇu.

न देहि त्वं सर्वदा मे मुरारे अहंममत्वं प्राप्यमेतावदेव । गम्यज्ञानं योग्यगुणे रमेश प्रमादो वा नास्तिनास्त्यद्य नित्य ॥ ३,६.

O slayer of Mura, do not ever give me the sense of 'I' and 'mine'; let me attain only this much. O Lord of Lakṣmī, knowledge of what is attainable and fitness for virtue—let there never be negligence, not now, not ever.

तन्मे हृषीकाणि पतन्त्यसत्पथे पदारविन्दे तु पतन्तु सर्वदा । लक्ष्म्या ह्यहं कोटिगुणेन हीनः स्तोतुं सामर्थ्यं नास्ति मे सुप्रसीद ॥ ३,६.

Therefore, let my senses always fall at your lotus feet, not on unworthy paths. I am a million times less than Lakṣmī; I have no ability to praise—be gracious to me.

इति स्तवं विष्णुगुणान्विधाता तार्क्ष्यस्थितः प्राञ्जलिस्तस्य चाग्रे । तदा वायुर्देवदेवो महात्मा दृष्ट्वा विष्णु भक्तिसंवर्धितात्मा ॥ ३,६.

Thus, Brahmā, standing before him on Garuḍa with joined palms, composed this hymn to Viṣṇu's qualities. Then Vāyu, the great-souled god of gods, seeing this, his heart increased in devotion to Viṣṇu.

स्नहोत्थरावः स्खलिताक्षरस्तं मुञ्चन्कणान्प्राञ्जलिराबभाषे । वायुरुवाच । एते हि देवास्तव भृत्यभूताः पदारविन्दं परमं सुदुर्लभम् ॥ ३,६.

With a voice choked by affection and faltering words, shedding tears, with joined palms, he spoke: Vāyu said: These gods are your servants, and your supreme lotus feet are extremely difficult to attain.

चतुर्विधान्पुरुषार्थान्रमेश संप्रार्थये तच्च सदापि देव । दृष्ट्वा हरेः सैव मायैव तावत्सुकारणं किञ्चिदन्यन्न चास्ति ॥ ३,६.

O Lord of Lakṣmī, I always seek from you the four aims of human life; O God, seeing Hari, it is only your māyā that is the cause—there is nothing else.

अतो नाहं प्रदयोपि भूमन् भवत्पदांभोजनिषवणोत्सुकः । लोकस्य कृष्णाद्विमुखस्य कर्मणा अपुण्यशीलस्य सुदुः खितस्य ॥ ३,६.

Therefore, O Infinite One, even if you would give, I am not eager to taste the nectar of your lotus feet, while people, turned away from Kṛṣṇa, of sinful conduct, and greatly afflicted, remain.

अनुग्रहार्थं च तवावतारो नान्यश्च किञ्चित्पुरुषार्थस्तवेश । गोभूसुराणां च महीरुहाणां तथा सुराणां प्रवरावतारैः ॥ ३,६.

For the sake of compassion, your incarnation occurs; there is no other purpose for you, O Lord. For cows, earth, demons, trees, and for the gods, you manifest with supreme descents.

क्षेमोपकाराणि च वासुदेव क्रीडन्विधत्ते न च किञ्चिदन्यत् । मनो न तृप्यत्यपि शंसतां नः सुकर्ममौलेश्चरितामृतानि ॥ ३,६.

O Vāsudeva, you perform acts for the welfare and benefit of all, as a sport, and nothing else. Our minds are never satisfied by hearing the nectar of your deeds, O crown of good actions.

अच्छिन्नभक्तस्य हि मे मुकुन्द सदा भक्तिं देहि पादारविन्दे । सदा तदेवास्तु न किञ्चिदन्यद्यत्र त्वमासीः पुरुषे देवदेव ॥ ३,६.

O Mukunda, grant me unwavering devotion to your lotus feet. Let that alone always exist, nothing else, wherever you, O God of gods, have manifested as the Puruṣa.

अहं च तत्रास्मि तव प्रसादाद्यत्रास्म्यहं तत्र भवान्महाप्रभो । व्यंसिर्ममेयं च शरीरमध्ये चतुर्मुखश्चैव न चैततदन्यैः ॥ ३,६.

Wherever I am, O Great Lord, I am there by your grace; wherever I am, you are there. This is my understanding, and within my body is the four-faced one as well; this is not so with others.

मदीयनिद्रा तव वन्दनं प्रभो मदीययामाचरणं प्रदक्षिणम् । मदीयव्याख्याहरणं स्तुतिः स्यादेवं विदित्वा च समर्पयामि ॥ ३,६.

My sleep is your worship, Lord; my eating is circumambulation; my speech and explanations are praise. Knowing this, I dedicate everything to you.

मद्वृद्धियोग्यं च पदार्थजातं दृष्ट्वा हरेः प्रतिमा एव तच्च । इत्थं मत्वाहं सर्वदा देवदेव तत्रस्थितान्हरिरूपान् भजिष्ये ॥ ३,६.

Whatever objects are suitable for my growth, seeing them as the image of Hari, I always worship the forms of Hari present there, O God of gods.

यच्चन्दनं यत्तु पुष्पं च धूपं वस्त्रं च यद्भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकं च । एतत्सर्वं विष्णुप्रीत्यर्थमेवेत्येतद्व्रतं सर्वदा वै करिष्ये ॥ ३,६.

Whatever sandalwood, flowers, incense, cloth, and all kinds of food and drink there are—may I always offer all these for the pleasure of Viṣṇu; this is the vow I will always observe.

अवैष्णवान्दूषयिष्ये सदाहं सद्वैष्णवान्पा(ल्लां)लयिष्ये मुरारे । विष्णुद्रुहां छेदयिष्ये च जिह्वां तच्छृण्वतां पूरयिष्ये त्रपूल्काः ॥ ३,६.

I shall always denounce the non-Vaishnavas and protect the true Vaishnavas, O slayer of Mura. I will cut out the tongues of those who are hostile to Vishnu, and fill with molten lead the ears of those who listen to them.

एतादृशी शक्तिर्ममास्ति देव तव प्रसादाद्बलिनोपि विष्णो । अथापि नाहं स्तवने समर्थः लक्ष्म्या ह्यहं कोटिगुणैर्विहीनः ॥ ३,६.

Such power is mine, O Lord, by your grace, O mighty Vishnu. Yet I am not capable of praising you; for I am deprived of Lakshmi’s qualities a millionfold.

एतत्स्तोत्रं ह्यर्थयेच्चैव या नः तत्र प्रीतिर्ह्यक्षया मे सदा स्यात् । स्तोत्रं ह्येतत्पाठयन्तीह लोके ते वैष्णवास्ते च हरिप्रियाश्च ॥ ३,६.

I ask for this hymn, so that my devotion there may always be unwavering. Those Vaishnavas who recite this hymn here in the world are dear to Hari.

कुर्वन्ति ये पठनं नित्यमेव समर्पयिष्यति सदा हरौ च । तेषां हरिः प्रीयते केशवोलं हरौ प्रसन्ने किमलभ्यमस्ति ॥ ३,६.

Those who daily recite this hymn and always offer it to Hari, for them Hari, Kesava, is pleased. When Hari is pleased, what is unattainable?

एवं स्तुत्वा वलदेवो महात्मा तूष्णीं स्थितः प्राञ्जलिरग्रतो हरेः । सरस्वत्युवाच । को वा रसज्ञो भगवन्मुरारे हरे गुणस्तवनात्कीर्तनाद्वा ॥ ३,६.

Having thus praised, the great-souled Baladeva stood silent with folded hands before Hari. Sarasvati said: Who indeed, O blessed one, O slayer of Mura, knows the taste of your virtues from praise or song?

अलंबुद्धिं प्राप्नुयाद्देवदेव ब्रह्मादिभिः सर्वदा स्तूयमान । यः कर्णनाडीं पुरुषस्य यातो भवप्रदां देहरतिं छिनत्ति ॥ ३,६.

He who is always praised by Brahma and the gods, O Lord of gods, grants supreme wisdom. When your praise enters a person’s ear, it severs attachment to the body, which brings bondage.

न केवलं देहरतिं छिनत्त्यसद्गृहक्षेत्रभार्यासुतेषु नित्यम् । पश्वादिरूपेषु धनादिकेषु अनर्घ्यरत्नेषु प्रियं छिनत्ति ॥ ३,६.

Not only does it cut attachment to the body, but also to false home, land, wife, and children, always; to cattle and other forms, to wealth, and to priceless jewels—it severs affection for all these.

अनंतवेदप्रतिपादितोपि लक्ष्मीर्न वै वेद तव स्वरूपम् । चतुर्मुखो नैव वेद न वायुरसौ न वेत्तीति किमत्र चित्रम् ॥ ३,६.

Even Lakshmi, though described in countless Vedas, does not know your true nature. Nor does the four-faced Brahma, nor Vayu; so what wonder is it that others do not know?

एतादृशस्य स्तवने क्वास्ति शक्तिर्मम प्रभो ब्रह्मवाय्वोः सकाशात् । शतैर्गुणैः सर्वदा न्यूनतास्ति अतो हरे दयया मां च पाहि ॥ ३,६.

Where is the strength in me, O Lord, to praise one such as you, when even Brahma and Vayu are always a hundredfold less? Therefore, O Hari, protect me with your compassion.

एवं स्तुत्वा हरिं सा तु तूष्णीमास खगेश्वर । भारती तु तदा स्तोतुं हरिं समुपचक्रमे ॥ ३,६.

Having thus praised Hari, she became silent, O Lord of birds. Then Bharati began to praise Hari.