Shloka 8

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

पद्मनाभः पद्मनिधिः पद्महस्तो गदाधरः / परमः (४०)परभूतश्च पुरुषोत्तम ईश्वरः

Transliteration

padmanābhaḥ padmanidhiḥ padmahasto gadādharaḥ / paramaḥ (40)parabhūtaśca puruṣottama īśvaraḥ

Translation

هو بادمانابها (ذو السُّرّة اللوتسية)، وبادمانِدهي (كنز اللوتس)، وبادماهَستا (ذو اليدين كاللوتس)، وغَدادهارا (حامل الهراوة)؛ هو الأسمى المتعالي على جميع الكائنات—بوروشوتّما، الربّ الإله.

Word by Word

• पद्मनाभः: the lotus-naveled (Vishnu)
• पद्मनाभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + नाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मस्य नाभः)

• पद्मनिधिः: treasure of the lotus
• पद्मनिधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मस्य निधिः)

• पद्महस्तः: one with a lotus in hand
• पद्महस्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मं हस्ते यस्य/पद्मस्य हस्तः)

• गदाधरः: mace-bearer
• गदाधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा + धर (धृ धातु, कर्तरि-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गदां धरति)

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परभूतः: transcendent; beyond (all)
• परभूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + भूत (भू धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्तान्त (past passive participle) ‘भूत’; तत्पुरुषः (परः भूतो/परं भूतो)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुरुषोत्तमः: best of persons
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषाणाम् उत्तमः)

• ईश्वरः: Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra in a devotional-nāma context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-smaraṇa of Viṣṇu as the Supreme Lord beyond all beings (parabhūta) and as Puruṣottama.

Vedantic Theme: Paratva of Brahman/Īśvara; the Supreme Person as the ground of all; devotion as a direct means to purification.

Application: Daily recitation of these epithets as japa/stotra; cultivate remembrance of the Lord’s supremacy during fear, grief, or moral doubt.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (Viṣṇu-nāma/mahimā sequence continuing through 1.15.12)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s names (nāmas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Viṣṇu’s epithets as concentrated descriptions of the Supreme Lord; remembering/reciting such nāmas is treated as a direct devotional practice that orients the mind toward mokṣa.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying the Supreme as Puruṣottama and Īśvara—beyond all beings—it points to the ultimate refuge of the soul as God-realization rather than mere worldly merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these names in daily japa or prayer to cultivate steadiness, surrender, and ethical living aligned with devotion to the Supreme.