Shloka 155

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

पक्ता नन्दयिता(९८०)भोक्ता बोद्धा भावयिता तथा / ज्ञानात्मा चैव देहात्मा भू(उ) मा सर्वेश्वरेश्वरः

Transliteration

paktā nandayitā(980)bhoktā boddhā bhāvayitā tathā / jñānātmā caiva dehātmā bhū(u) mā sarveśvareśvaraḥ

Translation

Er ist der „Koch“, der die Früchte reifen lässt, der Erfreuende, der Genießende, der Wissende und der, der alles werden lässt. Er ist das Selbst des Wissens und auch das Selbst, das mit dem Körper identifiziert wird; der Weite—oberster Herr über alle Herren.

Word by Word

• पक्ता: cooker; ripener
• पक्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √पच् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त) → पक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि तृ-प्रत्यय (agent noun: ‘one who cooks’)

• नन्दयिता: one who gladdens
• नन्दयिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √नन्द् (धातु) + णिच् + तृ (कृदन्त) → नन्दयितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; णिजन्त-कर्तरि तृ (causative agent)

• भोक्ता: enjoyer; eater
• भोक्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √भुज् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त) → भोक्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि तृ

• बोद्धा: knower; awakener
• बोद्धा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √बुध् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त) → बोद्धृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि तृ

• भावयिता: one who brings about; creator
• भावयिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √भू (धातु) + णिच् + तृ (कृदन्त) → भावयितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; णिजन्त-कर्तरि तृ (causative agent: ‘one who causes to be/produces’)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ

• ज्ञानात्मा: whose self is knowledge; knowledge-soul
• ज्ञानात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; ज्ञान + आत्मा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (ज्ञानः आत्मा यस्य/ज्ञानरूप आत्मा)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• देहात्मा: body-soul; embodied self
• देहात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; देह + आत्मा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (देहरूप आत्मा/देहस्य आत्मा)

• भूमा: the vast; greatness
• भूमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमान्/भूमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (पाठभेद: भूमा/भूमान्) ‘महत्त्व/विस्तार’

• सर्वेश्वरेश्वरः: Lord of all lords
• सर्वेश्वरेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-ईश्वर-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + ईश्वर + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां ईश्वराणाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Īśvara as both immanent agent of fruition (pāka) and the inner knower (bodhā), while also being the ground of both jñānātman and dehātman identifications; supremacy beyond all rulers.

Vedantic Theme: Sākṣin (witness) and upādhi-bheda: the Self appears as body-identified (dehātman) yet is truly knowledge-self (jñānātman); Īśvara as sarveśvareśvara.

Application: Observe experiences as ‘ripening’ results; shift identity from body-mind to witnessing awareness; dedicate enjoyment and action to the Lord to reduce bondage.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (names describing agency, enjoyment, knowledge, and supremacy)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Vishnu as 'bhoktā' and 'boddhā' in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents Viṣṇu as both the experiencer and the knower, indicating His lordship over experience and awareness—key to understanding Him as the inner ruler beyond mere ritual identity.

How does this verse explain the relation between jñānātmā and dehātmā?

It distinguishes the Self as pure consciousness/knowledge (jñānātmā) while also acknowledging the same Self appearing as embodied identity (dehātmā), pointing to the divine immanence within living beings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate remembrance that the same Divine awareness is present as the witness within the body—supporting ethical living, self-restraint, and devotion rather than mere bodily identification.