Shloka 15

Śālagrāma-lakṣaṇa: Viṣṇu Stotra, Vyūha/Avatāra Identification, and Temple-Fruition

Devanagari script

लग्नद्विचक्रो रक्ताभः पूर्वभागस्तुपुष्कलः / संकर्षणो ऽथ(प्रद्युम्नः) सूक्ष्मचक्रस्तु पीतकः

Transliteration

lagnadvicakro raktābhaḥ pūrvabhāgastupuṣkalaḥ / saṃkarṣaṇo 'tha(pradyumnaḥ) sūkṣmacakrastu pītakaḥ

Translation

الموسومُ بعلامةِ عجلتَين لونهُ مُحمرّ، ومقدّمُه عريضٌ مكتمل. ثمّ سَنْكَرْشَنَة—(أو برَدْيُومْنَة على قراءةٍ أخرى)—له قرصٌ لطيفٌ دقيق، ولونهُ مائلٌ إلى الصفرة.

Word by Word

• लग्नद्विचक्रः: the one with two discs affixed
• लग्नद्विचक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लग्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + द्वि (संख्या) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लग्नं द्विचक्रं यस्य)

• रक्ताभः: red-radiant
• रक्ताभः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तः आभः यस्य)

• पूर्वभागः: the front portion
• पूर्वभागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वः भागः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• पुष्कलः: abundant/large
• पुष्कलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• संकर्षणः: Saṃkarṣaṇa
• संकर्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अथ: then/and next
• अथ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) अनन्तर/क्रमार्थक

• प्रद्युम्नः: Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सूक्ष्मचक्रः: the one with a subtle/small discus
• सूक्ष्मचक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सूक्ष्मं चक्रं यस्य/सूक्ष्मचक्रः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) विशेषार्थक

• पीतकः: yellow-colored
• पीतकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discernment through sacred iconography: recognizing divine manifestations via lakṣaṇas (marks, hues) to stabilize contemplation and correct worship-identification.

Vedantic Theme: Many forms, one reality: differentiated appearances (vyūha/avatāra/arcā) serve as upāyas for the mind; unity is implied beneath variety.

Application: For practitioners of arcā worship or study, learn traditional iconographic cues to focus meditation; use color/mark visualization as a concentration aid.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45.14-15 (Śālagrāma/markings; color and chakra-lakṣaṇa descriptions)

Characters & Entities

• Sankarshana
• Pradyumna
• Chakra

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Saṅkarṣaṇa/Pradyumna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a meditative and iconographic identification of Viṣṇu’s vyūha-forms, using distinguishing marks (cakra) and colors to support recognition in worship and contemplation.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s path or afterlife teachings in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: the Garuda Purana often frames afterlife instruction within devotion to Viṣṇu; identifying divine forms and their marks supports remembrance and bhakti, which the text treats as spiritually protective.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a cue for focused japa or dhyāna: contemplate Viṣṇu’s forms with their distinguishing attributes (cakra) and cultivate steady devotional recollection.