Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

रामचक्रो दक्षरेखः श्यामोवो ऽव्या (त्त्रिविक्रमः) / शालग्रामे द्वारकायां स्थिताय गदिन नमः

Transliteration

rāmacakro dakṣarekhaḥ śyāmovo 'vyā (ttrivikramaḥ) / śālagrāme dvārakāyāṃ sthitāya gadina namaḥ

Translation

نَمَسْكارا للربّ حاملِ القرص—الموسومِ بالخطّ المبارك المتجه يمينًا—ذو اللون الأزرق الداكن، وهو تريفِكرَما الحامي. المقيمُ في شالاغراما وفي دوارَكا؛ السجودُ للربّ حاملِ الهراوة.

Word by Word

• रामचक्रः: having the Rāma-disc (mark)
• रामचक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रामचक्र (प्रातिपदिक; राम + चक्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दक्षरेखः: having a right-side line/mark
• दक्षरेखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षरेख (प्रातिपदिक; दक्ष + रेख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्यामः: dark, dusky
• श्यामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वः: you (plural): of you / for you
• वः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/Genitive or 4th/Dative), बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम

• अव्यात्: may (he) protect
• अव्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive usage), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—‘रक्षतु/पातु’

• त्रिविक्रमः: Trivikrama
• त्रिविक्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविक्रम (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + विक्रम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• शालग्रामे: in Śālagrāma
• शालग्रामे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• द्वारकायाम्: in Dvārakā
• द्वारकायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्थिताय: to/for the one situated (there)
• स्थिताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘स्थित’ = situated

• गदिन: to the mace-bearer
• गदिन: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदिन् (प्रातिपदिक; गदा + इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/देवताप्रत्यय (epithet: ‘one who has a mace’)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable interjection); नमः + चतुर्थी (dative) construction

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction/stuti context to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati expressed as namas to the mace-bearing Lord, present both in tīrtha (Dvārakā) and in portable sacred form (Śālagrāma).

Vedantic Theme: Immanence of the Supreme in worshipable forms; saguna-upāsanā as a direct means to inner purification and liberation-orientation.

Application: Maintain a daily practice: offer water/tulasi to Śālagrāma (if tradition permits), recite Trivikrama/Vishnu names, and cultivate ‘rightward’ (dakṣiṇa) auspicious orientation—ethical rightness and clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred city; sacred aniconic icon (stone)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45 (culminating salutation tying marks to Śālagrāma and Dvārakā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Trivikrama
• Shalagrama
• Dvaraka

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Śālagrāma as a direct abode/form of Viṣṇu, making its remembrance and worship a protective and highly auspicious Vaishnava practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing refuge in Viṣṇu (cakra- and gadā-bearing protector), it points to devotion and divine protection as a sustaining support amid the Purana’s broader teachings on life, death, and spiritual destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short Viṣṇu-stuti for daily remembrance—especially during pūjā or before travel/rituals—cultivating devotion, steadiness, and reliance on dharmic protection.