Shloka 14

Dūrvāṣṭamī Vrata and Rohiṇī-Yukta Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī: Mantras, Arghya, and Viṣṇu-Nāma Salutations

Devanagari script

नारायणं चतुर्बाहुं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् / पीतम्बरधरं दिव्यं वनमालाविभूषितम्

Transliteration

nārāyaṇaṃ caturbāhuṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam / pītambaradharaṃ divyaṃ vanamālāvibhūṣitam

Translation

Nārāyaṇa—der vierarmige Herr—der Muschel, Diskus und Keule trägt; in göttliches gelbes Gewand gekleidet und mit einer Waldblumengirlande geschmückt.

Word by Word

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चतुर्बाहुम्: four-armed
• चतुर्बाहुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; चत्वारः बाहवः यस्य (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे रूढिः)

• शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्: bearer of conch, discus, and mace
• शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + चक्र + गदा + धर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; शङ्खं चक्रं गदां च धरतीति

• पीतम्बरधरम्: wearing yellow garments
• पीतम्बरधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीताम्बर + धर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; पीताम्बरं धरतीति

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वनमालाविभूषितम्: adorned with a forest-garland
• वनमालाविभूषितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वनमाला + विभूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् (धातु) + वि + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि; वनमालया विभूषितः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa), in dialogue with Garuḍa (Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditative remembrance of the Lord’s auspicious form with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā and pītāmbara.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-brahma upāsanā as support for nirguṇa realization; rūpa as ālambana for one-pointed mind.

Application: Use as dhyāna-śloka before pūjā/japa; visualize each attribute (āyudha/vastra/vanamālā) to cultivate steadiness and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine abode

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vishnu-dhyāna and nāma-stuti passages used as preparatory recitation

Characters & Entities

• Nārāyaṇa
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on Nārāyaṇa in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse functions as a dhyāna-description: focusing the mind on Viṣṇu’s auspicious form to purify thought and invoke divine protection and steadiness in dharma.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death themes in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

By establishing Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (remembrance of Nārāyaṇa) through a clear iconographic meditation, it frames the broader teaching that spiritual recollection and devotion support the jīva’s right orientation amid discussions of death rites and post-mortem states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a daily dhyāna/mantra before rituals, śrāddha-related observances, or at the start of study—visualizing the conch, discus, and mace as symbols of purity, protection, and inner discipline.