The Glory of the Garuda Purana

Verse 1 (garuda.1.240.1)

हरिरुवाच । पुराणं गारुडं रुद्र प्रोक्तं सारं मयातव । ब्रह्मादीनां शृण्वतां च भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्

hariruvāca purāṇaṁ gāruḍaṁ rudra proktaṁ sāraṁ mayātava brahmādīnāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ ca bhuktimuktipradāyakam

Hari said: O Rudra, the Garuda Purana has been declared by me to you, its essence — for Brahma and the others who hear it, it grants both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.240.2)

विद्याकीर्तिप्रभालक्ष्मीजयारोग्यादिकारकम् । यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्रुद्र सर्ववित्स दिवं व्रजेत्

vidyākīrtiprabhālakṣmījayārogyādikārakam yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādrudra sarvavitsa divaṁ vrajet

It bestows learning, fame, splendor, prosperity, victory, health, and the rest. Whoever reads or hears it, O Rudra, becomes all-knowing and goes to heaven.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.240.3)

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति व्यास मया विष्णोः पुराणं मुक्तिदं श्रुतम् । व्यास उवाच । श्रुत्वैतद्गारुडं पुण्यं ब्रह्मास्मानित्युवाच ह

brahmovāca iti vyāsa mayā viṣṇoḥ purāṇaṁ muktidaṁ śrutam vyāsa uvāca śrutvaitadgāruḍaṁ puṇyaṁ brahmāsmānityuvāca ha

Brahma said: 'Thus, O Vyasa, have I heard from Vishnu this liberation-granting Purana.' Vyasa said: Having heard this meritorious Garuda Purana, Brahma said to us —

Verse 4 (garuda.1.240.4)

दक्षनारद मुख्यादिन् ब्रह्म ध्यान्हरिं गतः । मयापि तुभ्यं सूतेन पुराणं कथितं परम्

dakṣanārada mukhyādin brahma dhyānhariṁ gataḥ mayāpi tubhyaṁ sūtena purāṇaṁ kathitaṁ param

— this was declared to Daksha, Narada, and the other chief sages; Brahma, meditating, went to Hari. By me too, through Suta, this supreme Purana has been told to you.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.240.5)

यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्ववित्प्राप्तकामो ब्रह्म फलं भवेत् । विष्णुः सारतमंप्राह गरुडं गारुडं ततः

yacchrutvā sarvavitprāptakāmo brahma phalaṁ bhavet viṣṇuḥ sāratamaṁprāha garuḍaṁ gāruḍaṁ tataḥ

Hearing which, one becomes all-knowing, one's desires fulfilled, and attains the fruit of Brahman. Vishnu declared this most essential teaching to Garuda; hence it is called 'Garuda' —

Verse 6 (garuda.1.240.6)

महासारं धर्मकामधनमोक्षादिदायकम् । सूत उवाच । शौनक प्रवरं प्रोक्तं पुराणं गारुडं तव

mahāsāraṁ dharmakāmadhanamokṣādidāyakam sūta uvāca śaunaka pravaraṁ proktaṁ purāṇaṁ gāruḍaṁ tava

— this great essence, granting dharma, artha, kama, moksha, and the rest. Suta said: O Shaunaka, this excellent Garuda Purana has been declared to you,

Verse 7 (garuda.1.240.7)

यदब्रवीत्पुरा व्यासः सारं मां गारुडेरितम् । व्यासः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मणश्च पुराणं गारुडं शुभम् । देवं ध्यायन्वेदमेकं चतुर्धा व्यभजद्धरिः

yadabravītpurā vyāsaḥ sāraṁ māṁ gāruḍeritam vyāsaḥ śrutvā brahmaṇaśca purāṇaṁ gāruḍaṁ śubham devaṁ dhyāyanvedamekaṁ caturdhā vyabhajaddhariḥ

— which Vyasa once declared to me as the essence spoken as the Garuda teaching. Having heard from Brahma this auspicious Garuda Purana, meditating on the God, Vyasa divided the single Veda into four.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.240.8)

अष्टादशपुराणानि तानि मां प्राह वै शुकः । इदं तु गारुडं श्रेष्ठं मया ते शौनकेरितम्

aṣṭādaśapurāṇāni tāni māṁ prāha vai śukaḥ idaṁ tu gāruḍaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ mayā te śaunakeritam

Those eighteen Puranas — Shuka indeed told them to me. This Garuda Purana, the most excellent, has been declared by me to you, O Shaunaka.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.240.9)

मुनीनां शृण्वतां मध्ये पृच्छतः सर्ववाचकम् । यः पठेच्छणुयाद्वापि श्रावयेद्वा समाहितः

munīnāṁ śṛṇvatāṁ madhye pṛcchataḥ sarvavācakam yaḥ paṭhecchaṇuyādvāpi śrāvayedvā samāhitaḥ

In the midst of sages listening, asking, all speaking together — whoever, with a composed mind, reads, hears, or causes it to be heard,

Verse 10 (garuda.1.240.10)

संलिखेल्लेखयेद्वापि धारयेत्पुस्तके ननु । धर्मार्थो प्राप्नुयाद्धर्मर्थार्थो चार्थमाप्नुयात्

saṁlikhellekhayedvāpi dhārayetpustake nanu dharmārtho prāpnuyāddharmarthārtho cārthamāpnuyāt

— or copies it, or has it copied, or keeps it in a book — one seeking dharma obtains dharma, and one seeking wealth obtains wealth,

Verse 11 (garuda.1.240.11)

कामा नवाप्नुयात्कामी मोक्षार्थो मोक्षमाप्नुयात् । यद्यदिच्छति तत्सर्वं गारुडश्रवणाल्लभेत्

kāmā navāpnuyātkāmī mokṣārtho mokṣamāpnuyāt yadyadicchati tatsarvaṁ gāruḍaśravaṇāllabhet

— one desiring pleasure obtains pleasure, and one seeking liberation obtains liberation; whatever one desires, all of that is obtained through hearing the Garuda.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.240.12)

ब्राह्मणो वेदपारस्य गन्ता स्यान्नात्र संशयः । क्षत्त्रियो क्षत्त्रियस्यापि रक्षिता भवतीह च

brāhmaṇo vedapārasya gantā syānnātra saṁśayaḥ kṣattriyo kṣattriyasyāpi rakṣitā bhavatīha ca

A brahmin becomes one who reaches the far shore of the Veda — of this there is no doubt; and a kshatriya, here, becomes a protector of fellow kshatriyas.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.240.13)

नान्यस्य श्रवणं हि स्यात्पुराणं वेदसंमितम् । वदेद्यदि स मूढात्मा कीर्तिहानिमवाप्नुयात्

nānyasya śravaṇaṁ hi syātpurāṇaṁ vedasaṁmitam vadedyadi sa mūḍhātmā kīrtihānimavāpnuyāt

This Purana, equal to the Veda, should not be recited to others improperly; if a foolish soul were to do so, he would suffer loss of fame.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.240.14)

अन्यस्मै च वदेद्विद्वान् ब्राह्मणोन्तरितो य दि । ब्राह्मणान्तरितै सर्वैः श्रोतव्यं गारुडं त्विदम

anyasmai ca vadedvidvān brāhmaṇontarito ya di brāhmaṇāntaritai sarvaiḥ śrotavyaṁ gāruḍaṁ tvidama

A learned man may speak it to another only through the mediation of a brahmin; this Garuda Purana should be heard by all only through such mediation.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.240.15)

यथा विष्णुस्तथा तार्क्ष्यस्तार्क्ष्यस्तोत्राद्धरिः स्तुतः । गारुडं वसुराजश्च श्रुत्वा सर्वमवाप ह

yathā viṣṇustathā tārkṣyastārkṣyastotrāddhariḥ stutaḥ gāruḍaṁ vasurājaśca śrutvā sarvamavāpa ha

As Vishnu, so is Tarkshya (Garuda); by the hymn to Tarkshya, Hari too is praised. King Vasu, having heard the Garuda hymn, obtained everything.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.240.16)

वरुरुवाच । नमस्यामि महाबाहुं खगेद्र हरिवाहनम् । विष्णोर्ध्वसंस्थानं वित्रासितमहासुरम्

varuruvāca namasyāmi mahābāhuṁ khagedra harivāhanam viṣṇordhvasaṁsthānaṁ vitrāsitamahāsuram

Vasu said: I bow to the mighty-armed one, the lord of birds, the vehicle of Hari, who abides above upon Vishnu, who has terrified the great demons —

Verse 17 (garuda.1.240.17)

नमस्ते नागदर्पघ्न विनतानन्दवर्धन । सुपक्षपात निद्दभ दीनदैत्यनिरीक्षित

namaste nāgadarpaghna vinatānandavardhana supakṣapāta niddabha dīnadaityanirīkṣita

— O destroyer of the serpents' pride, increaser of Vinata's joy, of mighty wings, terrible, gazed upon by wretched demons — salutation to you!

Verse 18 (garuda.1.240.18)

परस्परस्य शापेन सुप्रतीकविभावसू । गजकच्छपतां प्राप्तौ भ्रातरौचैव संयुतौ

parasparasya śāpena supratīkavibhāvasū gajakacchapatāṁ prāptau bhrātaraucaiva saṁyutau

— you who freed the two brothers Supratika and Vibhavasu, who, through mutual curses, had become an elephant and a tortoise —

Verse 19 (garuda.1.240.19)

यदुच्छ्रितौ योजनानि जस्तद्द्विगुणायतः । कूर्मस्त्रियोजनोत्सोधा शतयोजनवमडलः

yaducchritau yojanāni jastaddviguṇāyataḥ kūrmastriyojanotsodhā śatayojanavamaḍalaḥ

— who, when raised up, measured many yojanas, twice that in length; the tortoise was three yojanas high, a hundred yojanas in circumference —

Verse 20 (garuda.1.240.20)

न खाद्यौ तौ त्वयानीचौ चतुर्भुजौ च पक्षिप । परस्परकृताच्छापदोषाच्च परिमोचितौ

na khādyau tau tvayānīcau caturbhujau ca pakṣipa parasparakṛtācchāpadoṣācca parimocitau

— those two you did not disdain, O king of birds, though you are of mighty form; freed them from the fault of their mutual curse —

Verse 21 (garuda.1.240.21)

निषाददेशस्वादेन देवं ब्रूस्मानिदितम् । विषादीशस्ततो मुक्तस्तत्रापि ब्राह्मणस्त्वया

niṣādadeśasvādena devaṁ brūsmāniditam viṣādīśastato muktastatrāpi brāhmaṇastvayā

— set down in the Nishada land as their meal, as declared by the honored god; there too the lord of poison-serpents was released, and there too a brahmin was spared by you —

Verse 22 (garuda.1.240.22)

वटारोहिणवृक्षस्य योजनानां शतायुता । शाखा भिन्ना त्वया यत्र वालखिल्याः समास्थिताः

vaṭārohiṇavṛkṣasya yojanānāṁ śatāyutā śākhā bhinnā tvayā yatra vālakhilyāḥ samāsthitāḥ

— where you broke a branch of the vast banyan tree, spanning a hundred thousand yojanas, upon which the Valakhilya sages were seated —

Verse 23 (garuda.1.240.23)

त्वया यत्नकृता कृत्वानखस्थौ गजकच्छपौ । नभस्पपिनिरालंबे सर्वतः परिवारितौ

tvayā yatnakṛtā kṛtvānakhasthau gajakacchapau nabhaspapinirālaṁbe sarvataḥ parivāritau

— by you, with effort, holding the elephant and tortoise upon your claws, surrounded on all sides in the supportless sky,

Verse 24 (garuda.1.240.24)

त्वया जिता रणे देवाः सर्वे शक्रपुरोगमाः । आहृतं तत्पुरा सोमं वाह्निं निर्वाप्य काश्यपे

tvayā jitā raṇe devāḥ sarve śakrapurogamāḥ āhṛtaṁ tatpurā somaṁ vāhniṁ nirvāpya kāśyape

— in battle you conquered all the gods, led by Indra; of old, O son of Kashyapa, having extinguished the fire, you carried off that Soma —

Verse 25 (garuda.1.240.25)

नागौ दृष्टिविषौ कृत्वा रजसा तु विचक्षुषौ । तीक्ष्णाग्रेण न सा भङ्क्त्वाविक्रवेतौ मनोहतः

nāgau dṛṣṭiviṣau kṛtvā rajasā tu vicakṣuṣau tīkṣṇāgreṇa na sā bhaṅktvāvikravetau manohataḥ

— having made the two poison-gazed serpents blind with dust, with your sharp beak, unbroken in resolve, undisturbed in mind —

Verse 26 (garuda.1.240.26)

आहृत्यापि त्वया सोमं नीतमेव न भक्तितः । तेन विष्णोर्ध्वजस्थानं वाहनत्वं गतो ह्यसि

āhṛtyāpi tvayā somaṁ nītameva na bhaktitaḥ tena viṣṇordhvajasthānaṁ vāhanatvaṁ gato hyasi

— having brought the Soma, out of devotion you did not partake of it; for this you attained the position on Vishnu's banner and the state of being his mount —

Verse 27 (garuda.1.240.27)

त्वया निः क्षिप्य दर्भेषु सोमं नागाश्च वञ्चिताः । जहार चामृतं पात्रं शीघ्रं वै ब्रह्मसूदन

tvayā niḥ kṣipya darbheṣu somaṁ nāgāśca vañcitāḥ jahāra cāmṛtaṁ pātraṁ śīghraṁ vai brahmasūdana

— having placed the Soma upon kusha grass, you thereby deceived the serpents, and swiftly took back the vessel of nectar, O accomplisher of Brahma's purpose —

Verse 28 (garuda.1.240.28)

यत्र जिह्वाद्विधाभूताः पन्नगानां द्विजोत्तम । विनता मोचिता दास्यात्कद्वा पूर्वजिता रणे

yatra jihvādvidhābhūtāḥ pannagānāṁ dvijottama vinatā mocitā dāsyātkadvā pūrvajitā raṇe

— whereby, O best of brahmins, the tongues of the serpents became forked; Vinata, who had earlier been lost in a wager, was freed from servitude —

Verse 29 (garuda.1.240.29)

उच्चैः श्रवाः स किंवर्णः शुक्ल इत्येव भाषते । कृष्णवर्णमहं मन्ये पूर्वदृष्टमुवाच ह

uccaiḥ śravāḥ sa kiṁvarṇaḥ śukla ityeva bhāṣate kṛṣṇavarṇamahaṁ manye pūrvadṛṣṭamuvāca ha

— over the color of the horse Uchchaihshravas, one side said 'it is white,' [and Vinata replied,] 'I hold it to be black,' having seen it before —

Verse 30 (garuda.1.240.30)

त्वया वज्रपहारेण पक्षमुक्तं पुरा स्वतः । दधीचवज्रशक्राणां मातुरर्थाय नान्यथा

tvayā vajrapahāreṇa pakṣamuktaṁ purā svataḥ dadhīcavajraśakrāṇāṁ māturarthāya nānyathā

— by you, a wing was voluntarily given up of old to the blow of the thunderbolt — of Dadhichi's bone, Indra's vajra — for your mother's sake, and for no other reason —

Verse 31 (garuda.1.240.31)

तस्य पक्षस्य देवेन्द्रो यदानीतं हि दृष्टवान् । तदा तव सुपर्णोति नाम स्थानं जगत्त्रये

tasya pakṣasya devendro yadānītaṁ hi dṛṣṭavān tadā tava suparṇoti nāma sthānaṁ jagattraye

— when Indra saw that wing thus given, then your name 'Suparna' and your status in the three worlds were established —

Verse 32 (garuda.1.240.32)

ध्यानमात्राद्विनश्येत्तु विषं स्थावरजङ्गमम् । पठेद्वा शृणुयाद्यश्च भुक्तिं मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात्

dhyānamātrādvinaśyettu viṣaṁ sthāvarajaṅgamam paṭhedvā śṛṇuyādyaśca bhuktiṁ muktimavāpnuyāt

— by mere meditation on you, poison, whether of plant or animal origin, is destroyed. Whoever recites or hears this attains enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.240.33)

सूत उवाच । वसुराजो गारुडं वै श्रुत्वा सर्वमवाप्तवान् । गरुडो भगवान्विष्णुध्यांयन्सर्ववाप्तवान्

sūta uvāca vasurājo gāruḍaṁ vai śrutvā sarvamavāptavān garuḍo bhagavānviṣṇudhyāṁyansarvavāptavān

Suta said: King Vasu, having heard the Garuda hymn, obtained everything; the Lord Garuda himself, meditating on Vishnu, obtained everything.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.240.34)

तदुक्तं गारुडं पुण्यं पुराणं यः पठेन्नरः । सर्वकाममवाप्याथ प्राप्नोति परमां गतिम्

taduktaṁ gāruḍaṁ puṇyaṁ purāṇaṁ yaḥ paṭhennaraḥ sarvakāmamavāpyātha prāpnoti paramāṁ gatim

That meritorious Garuda Purana thus declared — the man who reads it obtains all his desires, and then attains the supreme goal.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.240.35)

श्लोकपादं पठित्वा च सर्वपापक्षयो भवेत् । यस्येदं वर्तते गेह तस्य सर्वं भवेदिह

ślokapādaṁ paṭhitvā ca sarvapāpakṣayo bhavet yasyedaṁ vartate geha tasya sarvaṁ bhavediha

Having recited even a quarter-verse, the destruction of all sin occurs; in whose house this abides, for him everything comes to be here.

Verse 36 (garuda.1.240.36)

गारुडं यस्य हस्ते तु तस्य हस्तगतो नयः । यः पठेच्छृणुयादेतद्भुक्तिं मुक्तिं समाप्नुयात्

gāruḍaṁ yasya haste tu tasya hastagato nayaḥ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādetadbhuktiṁ muktiṁ samāpnuyāt

He in whose hand the Garuda rests, in his hand rests good guidance; whoever reads or hears this attains both enjoyment and liberation.

Verse 37 (garuda.1.240.37)

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षांश्च प्राप्नुयाच्छ्रवणादितः । पुत्रार्थो लभते पुत्रान् कामार्थो काममाप्नुयात्

dharmārthakāmamokṣāṁśca prāpnuyācchravaṇāditaḥ putrārtho labhate putrān kāmārtho kāmamāpnuyāt

One obtains dharma, artha, kama, and moksha through hearing it; one desiring a son obtains sons, one desiring pleasure obtains pleasure,

Verse 38 (garuda.1.240.38)

विद्यार्थो लभते विद्यां जयार्थो लभते जयम् । ब्रह्महत्यादिना पापी पापशुद्धिमवाप्नुयात्

vidyārtho labhate vidyāṁ jayārtho labhate jayam brahmahatyādinā pāpī pāpaśuddhimavāpnuyāt

— one desiring learning obtains learning, one desiring victory obtains victory; even one guilty of brahmin-murder and the like obtains purification from sin.

Verse 39 (garuda.1.240.39)

वन्ध्यापि लभते पुत्त्रं कन्या विन्दति सत्पतिम् । क्षेमार्थो लभते क्षेमं बोगार्थो बोगमाप्नुयात्

vandhyāpi labhate puttraṁ kanyā vindati satpatim kṣemārtho labhate kṣemaṁ bogārtho bogamāpnuyāt

Even a barren woman obtains a son; a maiden finds a worthy husband; one desiring security obtains security; one desiring enjoyment obtains enjoyment.

Verse 40 (garuda.1.240.40)

मङ्गलार्थो मङ्गलानि गुणार्थो गुणमाप्नुयात् । काव्यार्थो च कवित्वं च सारार्थो सारमाप्नुयात्

maṅgalārtho maṅgalāni guṇārtho guṇamāpnuyāt kāvyārtho ca kavitvaṁ ca sārārtho sāramāpnuyāt

One desiring auspiciousness obtains auspicious things; one desiring virtue obtains virtue; one desiring poetry obtains poetic skill; one desiring essence obtains the essence of things.

Verse 41 (garuda.1.240.41)

ज्ञानार्थो लभते ज्ञानं सर्वसंसारमर्दनम् । इदं स्वस्त्ययनं धन्यं गारुडं गरुडेरितम्

jñānārtho labhate jñānaṁ sarvasaṁsāramardanam idaṁ svastyayanaṁ dhanyaṁ gāruḍaṁ garuḍeritam

One desiring knowledge obtains knowledge that crushes all of samsara. This is a blessed benediction, the Garuda Purana, declared by Garuda himself.

Verse 42 (garuda.1.240.42)

नाकाले मरणं तस्य श्लोकमेकं तु यः पठेत् । श्लोकार्धपठनादस्य दुष्टशत्रुक्षयो ध्रुवम्

nākāle maraṇaṁ tasya ślokamekaṁ tu yaḥ paṭhet ślokārdhapaṭhanādasya duṣṭaśatrukṣayo dhruvam

He who recites even a single verse of it does not die an untimely death; from reciting even half a verse, the destruction of wicked enemies is certain for him.

Verse 43 (garuda.1.240.43)

सूताच्छ्रुत्वा शौनकस्तुनौमिषे मुनिभिः क्रतौ । अहं ब्रहेति संध्यायन्मुक्तोभूद्गरुडध्वजात्

sūtācchrutvā śaunakastunaumiṣe munibhiḥ kratau ahaṁ braheti saṁdhyāyanmuktobhūdgaruḍadhvajāt

Having heard it from Suta, Shaunaka, there in the Naimisha forest amid the sages at the sacrificial rite, meditating 'I am Brahman,' became liberated through the grace of the Garuda-bannered One.