Shloka 4

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

ॐ वासुदेवो महाविष्णुर्वामनो वासवो वसुः / बालचन्द्र निभो बालो बलभद्रो बलाधिपः

Transliteration

oṃ vāsudevo mahāviṣṇurvāmano vāsavo vasuḥ / bālacandra nibho bālo balabhadro balādhipaḥ

Translation

Om — Er ist Vāsudeva, der große Viṣṇu; Vāmana; Vāsava; Vasu; der Kindliche, strahlend wie der junge Mond; der Jüngling; Balabhadra; und der Herr der Kraft.

Word by Word

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; मन्त्र-प्रारम्भ-प्रणव (sacred syllable)

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महाविष्णुः: Great Viṣṇu
• महाविष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक; महा + विष्णु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘great Viṣṇu’)

• वामनः: Vāmana
• वामनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वासवः: Vāsava (Indra/one related to Vasus)
• वासवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वसुः: Vasu; the radiant one
• वसुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बालचन्द्रनिभः: like the young moon
• बालचन्द्रनिभः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाल-चन्द्र-निभ (प्रातिपदिक; बाल + चन्द्र + निभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (‘like the young moon’)

• बालः: the child; youthful one
• बालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बलभद्रः: Balabhadra
• बलभद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलभद्र (प्रातिपदिक; बल + भद्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (proper name)

• बलाधिपः: lord of strength; commander
• बलाधिपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल-अधिप (प्रातिपदिक; बल + अधिप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘lord of strength/army’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (as part of a divine names/epithets passage addressed to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu-nāma-saṅgraha: multiple names encapsulate attributes (aiśvarya, saundarya, bala) and avatāra-līlā.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna Brahman approached through nāma-rūpa; unity of many epithets in one Supreme.

Application: Use the listed names as a japa-mālā sequence; contemplate one attribute per name (protector, dwarf-avatāra, lunar gentleness, strength) to stabilize devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic-cosmic

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 nāma-stotra sequence (this verse as opening of the name-list)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vasudeva
• Vamana
• Balabhadra

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting Vishnu’s names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a sequence of Vishnu’s epithets, implying that remembrance and recitation of Hari’s names is a direct means of purification, protection, and steadying the mind in dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing devotion to Viṣṇu through nāma-smaraṇa (remembrance of divine names), it points to inner purification—considered a key support for a favorable spiritual trajectory and liberation-oriented living.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this verse as a short daily nāma-japa/recitation—especially in morning prayer or during anxious times—to cultivate steadiness, devotion, and ethical self-control.