Shloka 16

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

वरुरुवाच / नमस्यामि महाबाहुं खगेद्र हरिवाहनम् / विष्णोर्ध्वसंस्थानं वित्रासितमहासुरम्

Transliteration

varuruvāca / namasyāmi mahābāhuṃ khagedra harivāhanam / viṣṇordhvasaṃsthānaṃ vitrāsitamahāsuram

Translation

Varu sprach: „Ich verneige mich vor dem Großarmigen, dem König der Vögel, dem Träger Haris—der in der Macht Viṣṇus weilt und die großen Asuras in Schrecken versetzt hat.“

Word by Word

• वरुरुः: Varuru (proper name)
• वरुरुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नमस्यामि: I bow to, I salute
• नमस्यामि: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas + √as (धातु) / denom. namasy (धातु-भाव)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद (नमस्यति-धातोः)

• महाबाहुम्: the mighty-armed one
• महाबाहुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (महौ बाहू यस्य = 'one who has great arms')

• खगेन्द्र: O lord of birds
• खगेन्द्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaga + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (खगानाम् इन्द्रः = 'lord of birds')

• हरिवाहनम्: Hari's mount
• हरिवाहनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (हरेः वाहनम् = 'vehicle of Hari')

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• ध्वसंस्थानम्: the seat/cause of destruction
• ध्वसंस्थानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhvaṃsa + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ध्वंसस्य स्थानम् = 'abode/cause of destruction')

• वित्रासितमहासुरम्: one who has terrified the great demons
• वित्रासितमहासुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitrāsita + mahā + asura (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वित्रासिताः महाऽसुराः येन/यस्य = 'one who has terrified great asuras')

Speaker

Varu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stuti (praise) as alignment with divine protective power; Garuḍa’s might is grounded in Viṣṇu’s śakti (vishṇor-dhva-saṃsthāna).

Vedantic Theme: Paratantratā of divine attendants: power derives from the Supreme; devotion recognizes the source behind the manifestation.

Application: Invoke protective devotion in times of fear; remember that true strength is rooted in alignment with dharma and the Divine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Garuḍa-stotra contexts and protective invocations against fear/poison/serpents (general internal thematic link).

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Hari
• Vishnu
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Garuda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Garuḍa as Hari’s carrier and a protector who dispels fear, establishing devotional reverence as a gateway to receiving guidance and protection.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it prepares the listener through invocation: Garuḍa—closely linked with Viṣṇu—is praised as a fear-dispelling power, a key theme when approaching teachings on death, fear, and the unseen journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin serious study or rites with respectful invocation—cultivating humility, steadiness, and fearlessness—remembering the ideal of protection through dharma and devotion.