Garuda Purana
Srimad-Bhagavatam
SB Canto 2
The same truth is also indirectly described in the Garuḍa Purāṇa as follows:
- pāraṁ gato 'pi vedānāṁ
- sarva-śāstrārtha-vedy api
- yo na sarveśvare bhaktas
- taṁ vidyāt puruṣādhamam
"Even though one may have gone to the other side of all the Vedas, and even though one is well versed in all the revealed scriptures, if one is not a devotee of the Supreme Lord, he must be considered the lowest of mankind."
The devotional service of the Lord with perfect knowledge through the training of a bona fide spiritual master is advised for everyone, even if one happens not to be a human being. This is confirmed in the Garuḍa Purāṇa as follows:
- kīṭa-pakṣi-mṛgāṇāṁ ca
- harau sannyasta-cetasām
- ūrdhvām eva gatiṁ manye
- kiṁ punar jñānināṁ nṛṇām
"Even the worms, birds and beasts are assured of elevation to the highest perfectional life if they are completely surrendered to the transcendental loving service of the Lord, so what to speak of the philosophers amongst the human beings?"
In the Garuḍa Purāṇa, Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa and Padma Purāṇa, the same is repeated: What is the use of Vedic knowledge and penances for one who is devoid of devotional service to the Lord?
SB Canto 6
"If one chants the holy name of the Lord, even in a helpless condition or without desiring to do so, all the reactions of his sinful life depart, just as when a lion roars, all the small animals flee in fear." (Garuḍa Purāṇa)
SB Canto 9
O best of the brāhmaṇas, you should therefore go immediately to King Ambarīṣa, the son of Mahārāja Nābhāga. I wish you all good fortune. If you can satisfy Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, then there will be peace for you.
In this regard, Madhva Muni quotes from the Garuḍa Purāṇa:
- brahmādi-bhakti-koṭy-aṁśād
- aṁśo naivāmbarīṣake
- naivanyasya cakrasyāpi
- tathāpi harir īśvaraḥ
- tātkālikopaceyatvāt
- teṣāṁ yaśasa ādirāṭ
- brahmādayaś ca tat-kīrtiṁ
- vyañjayām āsur uttamām
- mohanāya ca daityānāṁ
- brahmāde nindanāya ca
- anyārthaṁ ca svayaṁ viṣṇur
- brahmādyāś ca nirāśiṣaḥ
- mānuṣeṣūttamātvāc ca
- teṣāṁ bhaktyādibhir guṇaiḥ
- brahmāder viṣṇv-adhīnatva-
- jñāpanāya ca kevalam
- durvāsāś ca svayaṁ rudras
- tathāpy anyāyām uktavān
- tasyāpy anugrahārthāya
- darpa-nāśārtham eva ca
The lesson to be derived from this narration concerning Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and Durvāsā Muni is that all the demigods, including Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, are under the control of Lord Viṣṇu. Therefore, when a Vaiṣṇava is offended, the offender is punished by Viṣṇu, the Supreme Lord. No one can protect such a person, even Lord Brahmā or Lord Śiva.
| Page Title: | Garuda Purana |
| Compiler: | Sahadeva, Serene, Alakananda |
| Created: | 06 of Apr, 2010 |
| Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=6, CC=7, OB=5, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=0 |
| No. of Quotes: | 18 |