Shloka 42

Acyuta/Vāsudeva Stotra: Avatāra-Salutations, Ritual Totality, Forgiveness Prayer, and Phalaśruti

Devanagari script

कथं त्वामीदृशं सूक्ष्मं शक्नोमि पुरुषोत्तम / अराधयितुमीशान मनोगम्यमगोचरम्

Transliteration

kathaṃ tvāmīdṛśaṃ sūkṣmaṃ śaknomi puruṣottama / arādhayitumīśāna manogamyamagocaram

Translation

Wie kann ich Dich verehren, o Puruṣottama? O Īśāna, so überaus subtil bist Du: nur der Geist erreicht Dich, und Du liegst jenseits der Reichweite der Sinne.

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ईदृशम्: such as this
• ईदृशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; त्वाम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सूक्ष्मम्: subtle
• सूक्ष्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; त्वाम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• शक्नोमि: am able
• शक्नोमि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुरुषोत्तम: O Supreme Person
• पुरुषोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुषोत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; पुरुष + उत्तम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आराधयितुम्: to worship, to propitiate
• आराधयितुम्: Prayojana/Complement (Infinitival complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √राध् (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), क्रियार्थक; शक्नोमि इत्यस्य पूरक (complement)

• ईशान: O Lord
• ईशान: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मनोगम्यम्: reachable only by the mind
• मनोगम्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोगम्य (प्रातिपदिक; मनस् + गम्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गम्य (√गम् + यत्) कृदन्त; त्वाम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

• अगोचरम्: beyond the senses, not an object of perception
• अगोचरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगोचर (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + गोचर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; त्वाम् इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme is subtle and beyond sensory grasp; worship must become inward (manas) and contemplative.

Vedantic Theme: Aparokṣa/anubhava-oriented approach: the subtle Brahman/Īśvara known through purified mind, not sense-objects.

Application: Adopt japa, dhyāna, and inner pūjā (mānasa-pūjā); cultivate sense-restraint and one-pointedness to approach the subtle.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana teachings on nāma-japa and inner devotion as means when form is inadequate

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu (Puruṣottama, Īśāna)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing God as 'sūkṣma' and 'agocara' in the Garuda Purana?

It emphasizes that the Supreme is not grasped through ordinary sense-perception; true approach requires inner discipline—faith, contemplation, and devotion.

How does this verse explain the right method of worship?

It points to worship rooted in the mind and heart—meditation, remembrance, and surrender—because the Lord is beyond sensory objects.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Shift spiritual practice from mere external display to steady inner remembrance (japa, dhyāna, and ethical living), treating devotion as an inward orientation toward the imperceptible Divine.