Shloka 77

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

प्रकृतिः कौस्तुभग्रीवः पीताम्बरधरस्तथा / सुमुखो दुर्मुखश्चैव मुनखेन तु विवर्जितः

Transliteration

prakṛtiḥ kaustubhagrīvaḥ pītāmbaradharastathā / sumukho durmukhaścaiva munakhena tu vivarjitaḥ

Translation

Er ist Prakṛti selbst; Er trägt das Kaustubha-Juwel an der Kehle und das gelbe Gewand (pītāmbara). Er ist von schönem Antlitz und auch von furchterregendem Antlitz, und Er ist frei von Nägeln und dergleichen.

Word by Word

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti / primordial nature
• प्रकृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कौस्तुभग्रीवः: having the Kaustubha gem on the neck
• कौस्तुभग्रीवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौस्तुभग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक; कौस्तुभ+ग्रीव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कौस्तुभः ग्रीवायां यस्य)

• पीताम्बरधरः: wearer of yellow garments
• पीताम्बरधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीताम्बरधर (प्रातिपदिक; पीत+अम्बर+धर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पीतम् अम्बरं धरति इति)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयवाचक-अव्यय (likewise)

• सुमुखः: beautiful-faced
• सुमुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमुख (प्रातिपदिक; सु+मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सुन्दरं मुखं यस्य)

• दुर्मुखः: terrible-faced
• दुर्मुखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मुख (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्+मुख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दुष्टं/भयानकं मुखं यस्य)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• मुनखेन: by/with a claw (or nail)
• मुनखेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनख (प्रातिपदिक; मु+नख/मुनख)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (पाठभेदसम्भव), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• विवर्जितः: deprived of; excluded from
• विवर्जितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+वृज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः: वर्जित/रहित

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is identified with Prakṛti while also standing beyond dualities (pleasant/terrible face), indicating divine immanence and transcendence.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Īśvara as both material and efficient cause in Purāṇic theism; reconciliation of opposites within the Absolute.

Application: When facing conflicting life experiences, contemplate the Lord as the single ground of both comfort and fear, cultivating equanimity and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine abode / metaphysical principle

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.76 (Śrīvatsa and iconography)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kaustubha

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Vishnu’s form (Kaustubha, pitambara) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses recognizable iconographic markers to identify the Supreme Lord, linking theology with devotional contemplation—Vishnu as the all-pervading reality (Prakṛti) who is also personally worshipable.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by establishing Vishnu as the supreme ground of existence and the one to be remembered/worshiped, it frames liberation as rooted in turning the mind toward the Lord beyond fearsome and gentle manifestations.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse for dhyāna: remember the Lord’s auspicious form (pitāmbara, Kaustubha) while accepting that the Divine also contains the power that appears fearsome—cultivating steadiness, devotion, and ethical restraint.