Garuda Purana

एवं स्तुत्वा तु पुलहस्तूष्णीमास तदा खग । तदनन्तरजः स्तोतुं क्रतुः समुपचक्रमे ॥ ३,७.

Having thus praised, Pulaha too became silent at that time, O bird; immediately after him, Kratu began to praise.

क्रतुरुवाच । प्राणप्रयाणसमये भगवंस्तवैव नामानि संसृतिजदुःखविनाशकानि । येनैकजन्मशमलं सहसैव हित्वा संयाति मुक्तिममलां तमहं प्रपद्ये ॥ ३,७.

Kratu said: At the time of the departure of life, O Lord, your very names destroy the suffering born of transmigration; by which, having instantly cast off the impurity of a single birth, one attains pure liberation—unto that I take refuge.

ये भक्त्या विवशा विष्णो नाममात्रैकजल्पकाः । तेपि मुक्तिं प्रयान्त्याशु किमुत ध्यायिनः सदा ॥ ३,७.

Those who, overwhelmed with devotion, utter only your name, O Viṣṇu, they too quickly attain liberation—how much more so those who always meditate upon you!

एवं स्तुत्वा क्रतुरपि तूष्णीमास खगेश्वर । तदनन्तरजः स्तोतुं मनुर्वैवस्वतोब्रवीत् ॥ ३,७.

Having thus praised, Kratu too became silent, O lord of birds; immediately after him, Manu Vaivasvata spoke to praise.

वैवस्वत उवाच । सोहं हि कर्मकरणे निरतः सदैव स्त्रीणां भोगे च निरतश्च गुदे प्रमत्तः । जिह्वेन्द्रिये च निरतस्तव दर्शने च सम्यग्विरागसहितः परमोदरेण ॥ ३,७.

Vaivasvata said: I am always engaged in performing actions, absorbed in the pleasures of women, heedless in the lower passions, intent upon the tongue and senses, yet in beholding you, I am truly detached with supreme indifference.

मांसास्थिमज्जरुधिरैः सहिते च देहे भक्तिं सदैव भगवन्नपि तस्करे च । गुर्वग्निबाडबगवादिषु सत्सु दुःखात्सम्यग्विरक्तिमुपयामि सहस्व नित्यम् ॥ ३,७.

Though my body is composed of flesh, bone, marrow, and blood, still, O Lord, I always have devotion—even as a thief; among teachers, fire, and other venerable ones, I attain true detachment from suffering—may you always bear with me.

लोकानुवादश्रवणे परमा च शक्तिर्नारायणस्य नमने न च मेस्ति शक्तिः । लोकानुयानकरणे परमा च शक्तिः क्षेत्रादिमार्गगमने परमा ह्यशक्तिः ॥ ३,७.

I have supreme power in hearing worldly talk, but no power at all in praising Nārāyaṇa; I have great power in following worldly ways, and in traveling to fields and such paths, but truly no power at all.

वैश्यादिकेषु धनिकेषु परा च शक्तिः सद्ब्राह्मणेष्वपि न शक्तिरहो मुरारे ॥ ३,७.

Among the wealthy in the classes of Vaiśyas and others, there is greater power; but even among virtuous Brāhmaṇas, alas, there is no such power, O Murāri.

वैवस्वतमनुर्देवं स्तुत्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह । तदनन्तरजः स्तोतुं विश्वामित्रोपचक्रमे ॥ ३,७.

Vaivasvata Manu, having praised the divine, became silent; then, after him, Viśvāmitra began to offer praise.

विश्वामित्र उवाच । न ध्याते चरणांबुजे भगवतो संध्यापि नानुष्ठिता ज्ञानद्वारकपाटपाटनपटुर्धर्मोपि नोपार्जितः । अन्तर्व्याप्तमलाभिघातकरणे पट्वी श्रुता ते कथा नो देव श्रवणेन पाहि भगवन्मामत्रितुल्यं सदा ॥ ३,७.

Viśvāmitra said: I have not meditated upon the lotus feet of the Lord, nor have I performed the twilight rites; I have not acquired the skill to open the gate of knowledge, nor have I attained righteousness. Your teachings, which penetrate within and dispel impurity, I have heard, but not mastered. O Lord, protect me always by hearing, for I am ever unequal to Atri.

विश्वामित्रऋषिस्त्वेवं स्तुत्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह । भृगुनारदक्षांश्च विहाय ब्रह्मपुत्रकाः ॥ ३,७.

Thus, having praised, the sage Viśvāmitra became silent; and the sons of Brahmā, leaving aside Bhṛgu, Nārada, and Dakṣa, remained.

सप्तसंख्या वसिष्ठाद्या विश्वामित्रस्तथैव च । वैवस्वतमनुस्त्वेते परस्परसमाः स्मृताः ॥ ३,७.

The seven, counted as Vasiṣṭha and others, as well as Viśvāmitra, and Vaivasvata Manu, are remembered as equal to one another.

वह्नेरप्यवरा नित्यं किञ्चिन्मित्राद्गुणाधिकाः । तदनन्तजस्तोत्रं वक्ष्ये शृणु खगेश्वर ॥ ३,७.

Those born from Agni are always lesser, though some surpass Mitra in qualities; now I shall recite the praise of the next-born, listen, O Lord of Birds.

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् ८ क्रतोरनन्तरं जातो मित्रो (श्रो) नाम खगेश्वर । नारायणं जगद्योनिं स्तोतुं समुपचक्रमे ॥ ३,८.

In the eighth chapter of the glorious Garuḍa Purāṇa: After the sacrifice, Mitra was born, O Lord of Birds; he began to praise Nārāyaṇa, the source of the universe.

मित्र उवाच । नतोस्म्यज्ञस्त्वच्चरणारविन्दं भवच्छिदं स्वस्त्ययनं भवच्छिदे । वेद स्वयं भगवान्वासुदेवो नाहं नाग्निर्न त्रिदेवा मुनीन्द्राः ॥ ३,८.

Mitra said: Though ignorant, I bow to your lotus feet, which destroy worldly existence and bring auspiciousness. The blessed Vāsudeva himself is the Veda; neither I, nor Agni, nor the three gods, nor the foremost sages, are so.

अथापरे भागवतप्रधाना यदा न जानीयुरथापरे कुतः । मां पाहि नित्यं परतोप्यधीश विश्वामित्रान्न्यून एवेति नित्यम् । अहं पर्जन्यार्द्विगुण एव नित्यमतो मम स्तवने नास्ति शक्तिः ॥ ३,८.

When even the foremost devotees do not know, how could others know? Protect me always, O Supreme Lord, for I am ever less than Viśvāmitra. I am always twice inferior to Parjanya; therefore, I have no power in praising you.

एवं स्तुत्वा हरिं मित्रस्तूष्णीमास तदा खग । तदनन्तरजा तारा स्तोतुं समुपचक्रमे ॥ ३,८.

Thus, having praised Hari, Mitra became silent at that time, O Bird; then, after him, Tārā began to offer praise.

तारोवाच अनन्येन तु भावेन भक्तिं कुर्वन्ति ये दृढाम् । त्वत्कृते त्यक्तकर्माणस्त्यक्तस्वजनबान्धवाः ॥ ३,८.

Tārā said: Those who perform steadfast devotion with undivided mind for your sake, abandoning actions and forsaking their own relatives and friends—

त्वदाश्रयां कथां श्रुत्वा (दृष्ट्वा) शृण्वन्ति कथयन्ति च । तथैते साधवो विष्णो सर्वसंगविवर्जिताः ॥ ३,८.

Having heard (or seen) your stories, they listen and narrate them; thus, these virtuous ones, O Viṣṇu, are free from all attachments.

तन्मध्ये पतितां पाहि सदा मित्रसमां प्रभो । तारानन्तरजः प्राह निरृतिश्च खगेश्वर ॥ ३,८.

Among them, protect me always, O Lord, equal to Mitra; after Tārā, Nirṛti spoke, O Lord of Birds.

निरृतिरुवाच । योगेन त्वय्यर्पितया च भक्त्या संयान्ति लोकाः परमां गतिं च । आसेवया सर्वगुणाधिकानां ज्ञानेन वैराग्ययुतेनदवे ॥ ३,८.

Nirṛti said: By yoga dedicated to you and by devotion, people attain the highest state; by service to those who excel in all virtues, with knowledge joined to detachment.

चित्तस्य निग्रहेणैव विष्णोर्यान्ति परं पदम् । अतो मां पाहि दयया सदा तारासमं प्रभो । तदनन्तरजा स्तोतुं प्रावही तं प्रचक्रमे ॥ ३,८.

By restraint of the mind alone, they reach the supreme abode of Viṣṇu; therefore, O Lord, always protect me with compassion, equal to Tārā. After Nirṛti, Pravāhī began to offer praise.

प्रवाह्युवाच । सुताः प्रसंगेन भवन्ति वीर्यात्तव प्रसादात्परमाः सम्पदश्च । या ह्युत्तमश्लोकरसायनाः कथास्तत्सेवनादास्त्वपवर्गवर्त्मनि ॥ ३,८.

Pravāhī said: Children are born through association, and by your grace, supreme strength and wealth arise; those stories which are the nectar of the highest praise, by their service, one attains the path of liberation.

भक्तिर्भवेत्सर्वदा देवदेव सदाप्यहं निरृतेः साम्यमेव । सहर्भाष्यकोमित्रः त्कयीतारः प्रकीर्तिताः ॥ ३,८.

May devotion always arise, O God of gods; I am always equal to Nirṛti. Saharbhāṣya, Komitra, Tkayī, and Tārā are named.

कोणाधिपो निरृतिश्च प्रावही प्रवहप्रिया । चत्वार एते पर्जन्यात्त्रिगुणाः परिकीर्तिताः ॥ ३,८.

Koṇādhipa, Nirṛti, Pravāhī, and Pravaha's beloved—these four are declared to be three times inferior to Parjanya.

तदनन्तरजान्वक्ष्ये ताञ्छृणु त्वं खगेश्वर । प्रवाहभार्यानन्तरजो विष्वक्सेनोथपार्षदः । वायुपुत्रो महाभागः हरिं स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमे ॥ ३,८.

After that, I will now tell you about those who come next—listen, O Lord of Birds. Viṣvaksena, the chief attendant, born after the wife of the wind, the greatly fortunate son of Vāyu, began to praise Hari.

विष्वक्सेन उवाच । भगवान्मोक्षदः कृष्णः पूर्णानन्दो सदायदि । यदि स्यात्परमा भक्तिर्ह्य परोक्षत्वसाधना ॥ ३,८.

Viṣvaksena said: The Blessed Lord, Kṛṣṇa, is the giver of liberation, ever complete in bliss. If there is supreme devotion, even when practiced indirectly, it leads to realization.

तथा स्वगुरुमारभ्य ब्रह्मान्तेषु च साधुषु । तद्योग्यतानुसारेण भक्तिर्निष्कपटा यदि ॥ ३,८.

Likewise, if one has pure, guileless devotion, beginning with one's own teacher and extending to the virtuous up to Brahmā, according to their worthiness—

तुलस्यादिषु जीवेषु यदि स्यात्प्रीतिरण्डज । संस्मृतिश्च तदा नाशी भूयादेव न संशयः ॥ ३,८.

If, O bird-born, there is affection for living beings such as Tulasī and others, then remembrance of the Lord will never be lost—of this there is no doubt.