Garuda Purana

कन्योवाच । जैगीषव्य ब्रूहि मे के च भक्ता भक्तिं कथं दर्शयामासुरेते । तेषां हरिः श्रीनिवासो महात्मा त्राता सदा भक्तवर्गे दयालुः ॥ ३,२४.

The maiden said: Jaigīṣavya, tell me who are the devotees and how they display devotion. For them, Hari Śrīnivāsa, the great soul, is always the protector, compassionate to the group of devotees.

जैगीषव्यस्त्वेवमुक्तो महात्मा उवाच कन्यां संस्मरन् भक्तवर्यः । जैगीषव्य उवाच । प्रहादाद्या श्रीनिवासस्य भक्ताः कृत्वा नृसिंहे चोत्तमां भक्तिमेव ॥ ३,२४.

Thus addressed, Jaigīṣavya, the great soul, remembering the foremost devotees, spoke to the maiden: Prahlāda and others are devotees of Śrīnivāsa, having performed supreme devotion to Nṛsiṃha.

अवाप साम्राज्यमनुत्तमं च ज्ञानं नृसिंहात्समवाप पश्चात् । पराशरः श्रीनिबासस्य भक्तो भक्तिं कृत्वा व्यासरूपं हरिं च ॥ ३,२४.

He attained unrivaled sovereignty and later received knowledge from Nṛsiṃha. Parāśara, devotee of Śrīnivāsa, performed devotion and Hari appeared in the form of Vyāsa.

स्तुत्वा तेन ज्ञानतत्त्वं ह्यवाप्य जगाम मोक्षं भक्तिसंवर्धितात्मा । यो नारदः श्रीनिवासस्य भक्तो भक्तिं कृत्वा गर्भवासे हरौ च ॥ ३,२४.

Having praised Him, Narada attained the essence of knowledge and reached liberation, his soul nourished by devotion; he, the devotee of Srinivasa, practiced devotion to Hari even while in the womb.

तया भक्त्या ब्रह्मपुत्रत्वमाप ज्ञानप्राप्त्या तेन मुक्तिं जगाम । यो ह्यंबरीषः श्रीनिवासस्य भक्तः कृत्वा भक्तिं परदेव हरौ च ॥ ३,२४.

Through that devotion, Ambarisha attained the status of Brahma's son, and by the acquisition of knowledge, he reached liberation; he, the devotee of Srinivasa, practiced devotion to the Supreme Lord Hari.

जप्त्वा ज्ञानं प्राप्य दुर्वासकश्चाप्यवाप मोक्षं तेन संवर्धितात्मा । मुचुकुन्दो वै श्रीनिवासस्य भक्तो वैराग्यतो भक्तिदार्ढ्यं च कृत्वा ॥ ३,२४.

By reciting, Durvasa attained knowledge and also reached liberation, his soul nourished thereby; Mucukunda, the devotee of Srinivasa, achieved firmness in devotion through detachment.

तत्त्वज्ञानं प्राप्य विष्णोर्महात्मा ह्यवाप मोक्षं तेन संवर्धितात्मा । स पुण्डरीकः श्रीनिवासस्य भक्तः पित्रादिष्टो विष्णुभक्तिं च कृत्वा ॥ ३,२४.

Having attained true knowledge of Vishnu, the great soul reached liberation, his soul nourished thereby; that Pundarika, devotee of Srinivasa, practiced devotion to Vishnu as instructed by his father and others.

हरिप्रासादाज्ज्ञानमनुत्तमं चाप्यवाप मोक्षं भक्तिसंवर्धितात्मा । ब्रह्मा च वायुश्च सरस्वती च ज्ञातव्याः सर्वे ऋजुयोगिनश्च ॥ ३,२४.

By the grace of Hari, they attained supreme knowledge and liberation, their souls nourished by devotion; Brahma, Vayu, Sarasvati, and all upright yogis are to be known thus.

अच्छिन्नभक्ताश्च सदा मुरारेर्न काम्यरक्ताः शुद्धरूपा हि ते च । गिरीशनागेशखगेशसंज्ञा देवाः शुक्रारौ गुरुचन्द्रेन्दुसूर्याः ॥ ३,२४.

Those who are ever unbroken in devotion to Murari, not attached to desires, are of pure nature; the deities known as Girisha, Nagesha, Khagesha, Shukra, Arau, Guru, Chandra, Indu, and Surya.

जलेशोग्निर्मनुधर्मौ कुबेरः विघ्नेशनासत्यमरुद्गणाश्च । पर्जन्यमित्रादय एव सर्वे सदा ह्येते श्रीनिवासस्य भक्ताः ॥ ३,२४.

Jalesha, Agni, Manu, Dharma, Kubera, Vighnesha, Nasatya, the Marut hosts, Parjanya, Mitra, and others—all these are always devotees of Srinivasa.

विश्वामित्रो भृगुरौर्वश्च कुत्सो मरीचिरत्रिः पुलहः क्रतुश्च । शक्तिर्वसिष्ठो सौतमीयो पुलस्त्यो भारद्वाजः श्रीनिवासस्य भक्ताः ॥ ३,२४.

Vishvamitra, Bhrigu, Aurva, Kutsa, Marichi, Atri, Pulaha, Kratu, Shakti, Vasishta, Sautamīya, Pulastya, and Bharadvaja are devotees of Srinivasa.

मान्धाता नहुषोंबरीषसगरौ राजा पृथुर्हैहयो इक्ष्वाकुर्भरतो ययातिसुतलौ धर्मो विकुक्षिस्तथा । उत्तानश्च बिभीषणो दशरथो ह्येते महाज्ञानिनः श्रीमद्वेङ्कटनायकस्य च गुरोर्भक्ताः सदा संस्मृताः ॥ ३,२४.

Mandhata, Nahusha, Ambarisha, Sagara, King Prithu, Haihaya, Ikshvaku, Bharata, Yayati, Sutala, Dharma, Vikukshi, Uttana, Vibhishana, Dasharatha—these great knowers are always remembered as devotees of the glorious Lord Venkatanayaka and his guru.

भागीरथी समुद्रश्च यमुना च सरस्वती । गोदावरी नर्मदा च कृष्णा भीमरथी तथा ॥ ३,२४.

Bhagirathi, the ocean, Yamuna, Sarasvati, Godavari, Narmada, Krishna, and Bhimarathi likewise.

सरयूफल्गुकावेरीगण्डकी कपिला स्तथा । इत्येताश्च हरेर्भक्ताः संति चात्रैव भामिनि ॥ ३,२४.

Sarayu, Phalgu, Kaveri, Gandaki, Kapila—these too, O beautiful one, are devotees of Hari here.

अभिप्रायं तत्र वक्ष्ये शृणु कन्ये मया सति । यत्र प्रवर्तते मार्गे कथा विष्णोर्महात्मनः ॥ ३,२४.

I will explain the intention there, listen, O maiden, as spoken by me, where the path of the story of the great soul Vishnu is set forth.

वर्तन्ते वैष्णवा यत्र हरितत्त्वार्थबोधकाः । तत्रैव भक्ताः सर्वेपि संति विष्णोस्तथैव च ॥ ३,२४.

Wherever Vaishnavas are present, imparting the meaning of Hari's truth, there all devotees of Vishnu are likewise found.

ये देवयात्रां परमात्मचिन्तया कुर्वन्ति ते हरिभक्ताश्च नान्ये । यतो हरौ परमे वैष्णवानां सर्वं निष्ठामेति कृत्यं खगेन्द्र ॥ ३,२४.

Those who perform divine processions with contemplation of the Supreme Soul are devotees of Hari, not others; for in Hari alone, O king of birds, all the actions and aims of Vaishnavas are fulfilled.

शेषाचलं समासाद्य ह्यन्नवस्त्रादिभूषणम् । यो न दद्यादभक्तः स ततः को नु परः पशुः ॥ ३,२४.

Having reached Shesha mountain, whoever does not give food, clothing, and ornaments is devoid of devotion; who else is more beastly than that?

भक्ता हरेः श्रीनिवासाचले च गङ्गादिरूपेण च तत्रतत्र । तिष्ठन्ति सेवार्थमुरुक्रमस्य तेषां पूजा नैव कार्या च देवि ॥ ३,२४.

The devotees of Hari, at Srinivasa's hill and in the form of Ganga and others, stand in various places for service to the mighty Hari; their worship should not be performed, O goddess.

अभिप्रायं तत्र वक्ष्ये शृणु त्वं तत्र स्थले वस्त्रगन्धादिधूपैः । पुराणोक्ता अपि भेदेन पूज्या दृष्ट्वा च तान्वन्दयेत्प्राज्ञ एव ॥ ३,२४.

I will explain the intention there, listen to me at that place; with cloth, fragrance, incense, and so on, even those mentioned in the Purana, though worshipped differently, should be honored by the wise upon seeing them.

सद्ब्राह्मणान्वन्दयेत्पादमूले हस्तौ च द्वौ संपुटीकृत्य देवि । साष्टाङ्गरुपं वन्दनं चैव विष्णोः कुर्यात्तथा गुरवे विष्णुबुद्ध्या ॥ ३,२४.

One should honor true Brahmanas at their feet, joining both hands, O goddess; one should perform eight-limbed prostration to Vishnu, and likewise to the guru, considering him as Vishnu.

गङ्गादीनां वन्दनं कार्यमेव साष्टाङ्गं वै तुलसीनां तथैव । अश्वत्थानां नमनं कार्यमेव गवादीनां नमनं मानसेन ॥ ३,२४.

One should always offer full prostration to the Ganges and other sacred rivers, and likewise to the tulasi plant; one should bow to the ashvattha trees, and mentally bow to cows and similar beings.

पूजा सदा देवदेवस्य विष्णोः कार्या भक्त्या वैष्णवैरेव नान्यैः । ये नामका ज्ञानवन्तः सुभक्ताः सदैव कार्या विष्णुपूजा च कन्ये ॥ ३,२४.

The worship of the Lord of gods, Vishnu, should always be performed with devotion, and only by Vaishnavas, not by others; those who are named after Him, who are wise and truly devoted, should always worship Vishnu, O maiden.

ये नामका ज्ञानवन्तः सुभक्ताः सदैवं कार्या विष्णुपूजा च कन्ये । येनामका विष्णुभक्ताः सदैव पूजा विष्णोर्नैव कार्यात्र देवि ॥ ३,२४.

Those who bear His names, who are wise and deeply devoted, should always worship Vishnu, O maiden; those who are named after Him and are devoted to Vishnu should always perform His worship, O goddess, and none else.

मोहाद्यो वै पूजयेद्देवदेवं महाधर्माद्याति चान्धं तमो वै । ब्रह्मादिनामानि हरेर्हि देवीं विष्णोः स्वनामानि ददौ दिवौकसाम् ॥ ३,२४.

Whoever, out of delusion, worships the Lord of gods but follows a great unrighteous path, goes into deep darkness; O goddess, Brahma and the other gods received their names from Hari, and Vishnu gave His own names to the dwellers of heaven.

नादाद्धीरः केशवादीनि कन्ये स्वकं पुरं प्रविहायैव राजा । एवं मयोक्तं कन्यके सर्वमेतदेतत्परं सम्यगारोहणीयम् ॥ ३,२४.

A wise person should not abandon his own city and take up names such as Keshava, O maiden; thus, O maiden, I have explained everything—this supreme teaching should be properly adopted.

गोविन्द नारायण माधवेति यूयं मया सर्वमाराधितव्यम् । सर्वे मिलित्वा पुनरेवं खगेन्द्र समारुहन्वैङ्कटाद्रिं गृणन्तः ॥ ३,२४.

Govinda, Narayana, Madhava—by all these names you must worship Me in every way; all of you, gathering together, O king of birds, ascended Vaikuntha Hill, singing praises.

हरेर्नामान्यत्र पूर्वं गृणन्तस्त्वास्वादयन्तः श्रीनिवासस्य नाम । द्रष्टुं सर्वे श्रीनिवासं तथैव कुर्वन्तस्ते तलशब्दं नदन्तः ॥ ३,२४.

Reciting the names of Hari as before, relishing the name of Srinivasa, all of them went to see Srinivasa, making the sound of clapping their hands as they went.

इति कृष्णवचः श्रुत्वा तार्क्ष्यः कृष्णमुवाचह कथमास्वादनं चक्रुरेतद्विस्तीर्यमे वद । श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । भो श्रीनिवास तव नामैव चैतन्नाम स्वामी ननु नामैव स्वामी । यां ब्रह्माद्या आश्रयन्तीत्ति यस्मात्तस्माद्रमा श्रीरिति नाम चाप ॥ ३,२४.

Hearing these words of Krishna, Tarkshya asked Krishna: 'How did they relish this? Tell me this in detail.' Shri Krishna said: 'O Srinivasa, Your very name is indeed the Lord's name; the Lord is truly known by His name. Because Brahma and the others take refuge in You, therefore You are called Rama, Shri, and by other such names.'