Shloka 10

Viṣṇu-dhyāna: Saguṇa Iconography, Nirguṇa Framework, and the Vāsudeva Insight

Devanagari script

मुनिध्येयो ऽसुरध्येयो देवध्येयो ऽतिसुन्दरः / ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तभूतजातहृदिस्थितः

Transliteration

munidhyeyo 'suradhyeyo devadhyeyo 'tisundaraḥ / brahmādistambaparyantabhūtajātahṛdisthitaḥ

Translation

هو مَن يتأمّله المنيون؛ بل إنّ الأسورا أيضًا يتأمّلونه؛ والديڤا كذلك—غايةُ الجمال. من براهما إلى شفرةِ عشبٍ يسيرة، يقيم في قلوب جميع أصناف الكائنات.

Word by Word

• मुनिध्येयः: to be meditated on by sages
• मुनिध्येयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्येय (धातु √ध्यै, ण्यत्/यत्-कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (मुनिभिः ध्येयः = मुनिनां ध्येयः); कृत्: ध्येय (to be meditated upon)

• असुरध्येयः: to be meditated on by asuras
• असुरध्येयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्येय (धातु √ध्यै, कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (असुरैः ध्येयः/असुराणां ध्येयः)

• देवध्येयः: to be meditated on by gods
• देवध्येयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्येय (धातु √ध्यै, कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (देवैः ध्येयः/देवानां ध्येयः)

• अतिसुन्दरः: exceedingly beautiful
• अतिसुन्दरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अति-सुन्दरः = अत्यन्तं सुन्दरः)

• ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तभूतजातहृदिस्थितः: dwelling in the hearts of all beings from Brahmā down to a blade of grass
• ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्तभूतजातहृदिस्थितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + जात (धातु √जन्, क्त-प्रत्यय) + हृद् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (धातु √स्था, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: (ब्रह्मादि-स्तम्ब-पर्यन्तं भूतजातं) तस्य हृदि स्थितः; ‘हृदि’ (सप्तमी) अन्तर्भूत; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antaryāmitva: the Supreme abides in the hearts of all beings irrespective of status; thus He is the universal object of meditation.

Vedantic Theme: Paramātman as inner ruler (antaryāmin) and the unity underlying apparent multiplicity; basis for sama-darśana.

Application: Practice seeing the same indwelling Lord in people across social strata and in nature; apply as compassion, reduced reactivity, and ethical restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner/ontological locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.92.11 (eternal, imperishable Lord)

Characters & Entities

• Munis
• Asuras
• Devas
• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the importance of the indwelling Lord (Antaryāmin) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the Supreme is present within the heart of every being—from Brahmā to the smallest life—making inner remembrance and ethical living sacred.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stressing God’s presence in the heart, it frames liberation as rooted in inner devotion and awareness, not merely external status (Deva/Asura), aligning the soul’s journey with remembrance of the Divine.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily japa or meditation on Vishnu, and treat all beings with respect, remembering the same indwelling Reality is present in everyone.