Shloka 44

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

नीलमेघनिभः शुद्धः सालमेघनिभस्तथा / धूमवर्णः पतिवर्णो नानारूपो(२७०)ह्यवर्णकः

Transliteration

nīlameghanibhaḥ śuddhaḥ sālameghanibhastathā / dhūmavarṇaḥ pativarṇo nānārūpo(270)hyavarṇakaḥ

Translation

Er erscheint wie eine dunkelblaue Regenwolke — und ist doch rein; ebenso wie eine blasse Wolke. Er ist rauchfarben und von falbem Ton; er nimmt viele Gestalten an und hat wahrlich keine feste Farbe.

Word by Word

• नीलमेघनिभः: like a dark-blue cloud
• नीलमेघनिभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + मेघ + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नीलमेघस्य निभः/सदृशः)

• शुद्धः: pure
• शुद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सालमेघनिभः: like a sāla-cloud (a kind of cloud)
• सालमेघनिभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साल + मेघ + निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सालमेघस्य निभः/सदृशः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थे (adverb: likewise)

• धूमवर्णः: smoke-colored
• धूमवर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (धूम इव वर्णः यस्य)

• पतिवर्णः: having the color of a lord/master
• पतिवर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पति + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पतेः वर्णः/वर्णवत्)

• नानारूपः: of many forms
• नानारूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नानाविधं रूपं यस्य)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अवर्णकः: colorless; without (fixed) color
• अवर्णकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक विशेषण (without color/without describable color)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme appears in diverse perceptible qualities yet is ultimately beyond all sensory predicates (color/form).

Vedantic Theme: Neti-neti (via negativa) alongside divine immanence; maya as appearance without limiting the Absolute.

Application: Use nature (clouds, shifting light) as a meditation aid: observe changing qualities without clinging, remembering the changeless substratum.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial panorama

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.43–47 (cluster of paradoxical epithets: colored/colourless; formed/formless)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing many colors and forms in the Garuda Purana?

It conveys that the subtle being is not a fixed physical body; it can appear in varied hues and forms, indicating its non-material, changeable nature.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing variability of appearance, it implies the traveler after death is a subtle entity, whose perception-based form differs from gross embodiment during the journey through post-death realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat identity and appearance as impermanent; prioritize purity of conduct (dharma) over external form, since the inner condition—not outer color—governs one’s post-death experience.