Shloka 17

Śiva’s Narasiṃha-Stotra and the Pacification of the Mātṛgaṇas

Devanagari script

सहस्रवायुवेगाक्ष सहस्राज्ञकृपाकर / स्तुत्वैवं देवदेवेशं नृसिंहवपुषं हरिम् / विज्ञापयामास पुनर्विनयावनतः शिवः

Transliteration

sahasravāyuvegākṣa sahasrājñakṛpākara / stutvaivaṃ devadeveśaṃ nṛsiṃhavapuṣaṃ harim / vijñāpayāmāsa punarvinayāvanataḥ śivaḥ

Translation

O Du, dessen Blick schneller ist als tausend Winde; o Barmherziger, der tausend Gebote kennt—nachdem er so Hari, den Herrn der Herren, der die Gestalt Narasiṃhas trug, gepriesen hatte, verneigte sich Śiva erneut in Demut und brachte seine Bitte vor.

Word by Word

• सहस्रवायुवेगाक्ष: O one whose gaze is as swift as the wind (a thousandfold)
• सहस्रवायुवेगाक्ष: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (वायुवेगवत् अक्षः/दृष्टिः यस्य)

• सहस्राज्ञकृपाकर: O bestower of command and grace (a thousandfold)
• सहस्राज्ञकृपाकर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन-प्रयोगः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + कृपा (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (आज्ञा-कृपां करोति/करः = bestower)

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √स्तु (धातु) (कृदन्त; त्वा-प्रत्यय, क्त्वान्त अव्ययभावः)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive): ‘having praised’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• देवदेवेशम्: the Lord of the gods
• देवदेवेशम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (देवानां देवः; तस्य ईशः = lord of gods)

• नृसिंहवपुषम्: having the form of Narasiṃha
• नृसिंहवपुषम्: Karman (Object-complement/विशेषण-रूपेण कर्मणि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (नृसिंहस्य वपुः यस्य)

• हरिम्: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विज्ञापयामास: informed / submitted
• विज्ञापयामास: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + वि उपसर्ग + णिच् (causative) + लिट् (परस्मैपद)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative): ‘made known/informed’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (adverb: again)

• विनयावनतः: bowed in humility
• विनयावनतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक) + अवनत (कृदन्त; अव + √नम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः; क्तान्त कृदन्तः (विनयेन अवनतः = bowed with humility)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (describing Śiva addressing Lord Viṣṇu in Narasiṃha form)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the great deities approach the Supreme with vinaya (humility); stuti culminates in śaraṇāgati (petition/surrender).

Vedantic Theme: Hierarchy of tattvas: Īśvara as parameśvara; devotion as a valid mode of knowledge and approach (upāsanā leading to grace).

Application: Model petitions after praise and humility: articulate needs after centering the mind in reverence; cultivate ego-softening before requests.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.231.15-16 (stuti); Garuda Purana 1.231.18-19 (Śiva’s petition content begins)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Narasimha
• Deva-devesha (Lord of gods)

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Narasiṃha as Devadeveśa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Narasiṃha-Hari as the supreme refuge (“Lord of lords”), showing that even Śiva approaches Him with reverence—highlighting humility and the power of stuti (praise) before making a request.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

Indirectly: it models the correct spiritual posture—humility, praise, and surrender to the Supreme—qualities repeatedly emphasized in Garuda Purana teachings on dharma and liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before asking for outcomes (health, protection, peace), begin with gratitude and sincere praise; approach duties and rituals with vinaya (humility) rather than entitlement.