Shloka 53

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

नमश्चेश्वरवन्द्याय शङ्कचक्रधारय च / नम आद्याय दान्ताय सर्वसत्त्वहिताय च

Transliteration

namaśceśvaravandyāya śaṅkacakradhāraya ca / nama ādyāya dāntāya sarvasattvahitāya ca

Translation

Ehrerbietung Dem, den selbst die Götter verehren, dem Träger von Muschel und Diskus. Ehrerbietung dem Uranfänglichen, dem Selbstbeherrschten, und dem Wohltäter aller Lebewesen.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; नमस्कारार्थक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• ईश्वर-वन्द्याय: to the one worshipped by (all) lords
• ईश्वर-वन्द्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्द्य (कृदन्त; √वन्द् (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—'ईश्वरैः वन्द्यः' (worthy of worship by lords)

• शङ्ख-चक्र-धाराय: to the bearer of conch and discus
• शङ्ख-चक्र-धाराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—'शङ्खं च चक्रं च धारयति/धारयन्' इत्यर्थे धार (bearer)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः; नमस्कारार्थक

• आद्याय: to the primordial one
• आद्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• दान्ताय: to the self-restrained one
• दान्ताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दान्त (कृदन्त; √दम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (self-controlled)

• सर्व-सत्त्व-हिताय: to the benefactor of all beings
• सर्व-सत्त्व-हिताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (कृदन्त; √धा (धातु) + क्त, 'placed/beneficial')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—'सर्वेषां सत्त्वानां हितः' (beneficial to all beings)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), offering salutations to Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme is worthy of worship even by gods; as primordial and self-controlled, He acts for the welfare of all beings—devotion aligns one with that universal good.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara as jagat-hitakārin (benefactor of the world); devotion matures into compassion and self-restraint mirroring the divine qualities.

Application: In daily decisions, pair devotion with dānta (self-control): reduce harm, practice restraint in speech/consumption, and choose actions that benefit living beings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temple/vision of Vishnu (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34 (stuti continues with Vishnu iconography and ethical attributes)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ishvaras/Devas (implied by īśvara-vandya)

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu as the primordial, self-controlled protector whose welfare extends to all beings, making the recitation spiritually auspicious and ethically anchored in dharma.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it sets the theological foundation that the ultimate refuge is the primordial Lord; later teachings on death, rites, and afterlife are understood under this protective, dharma-guiding sovereignty.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin study or rituals with a brief Vishnu-salutation, and cultivate dānta (self-restraint) and sarvasattva-hita (universal welfare) as daily ethical disciplines.