Shloka 29

Śālagrāma-lakṣaṇa: Viṣṇu Stotra, Vyūha/Avatāra Identification, and Temple-Fruition

Devanagari script

(प्रद्युम्नः) षडूभिरेव स्यात् (संकर्षण) इतस्ततः / (पुरुषोत्तमो)ऽष्टभिः स्या(न्नवव्यूहो) नवाङ्कितः

Transliteration

(pradyumnaḥ) ṣaḍūbhireva syāt (saṃkarṣaṇa) itastataḥ / (puruṣottamo)'ṣṭabhiḥ syā(nnavavyūho) navāṅkitaḥ

Translation

Pradyumna soll durch sechs (Silben/Buchstaben) bezeichnet werden; Saṅkarṣaṇa wird hier und dort entsprechend angezeigt. Puruṣottama wird durch acht bezeichnet; so ist die «Navavyūha», die neunfache Emanation, durch neun (Benennungen) gekennzeichnet.

Word by Word

• प्रद्युम्नः: Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• षड्भिः: by six
• षड्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• स्यात्: may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• संकर्षणः: Saṃkarṣaṇa
• संकर्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इतस्: from here
• इतस्: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/दिशा-वाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• ततः: from there; here and there
• ततः: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/दिशा-वाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• पुरुषोत्तमः: Puruṣottama
• पुरुषोत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुरुषाणाम् उत्तमः)

• अष्टभिः: by eight
• अष्टभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• स्यात्: may be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नवव्यूहः: the ninefold emanation (Navavyūha)
• नवव्यूहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नव व्यूहाः यस्य)

• नव-अङ्कितः: marked with nine (signs)
• नव-अङ्कितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कित (कृदन्त; √अङ्क् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (नवभिः अङ्कितः = nine-marked)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-saṅkhyā as upāsanā: the Lord’s emanations are approached through ordered designations (vyūha/navavyūha).

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā-krama (graded contemplation) supporting steadiness of mind; unity of Puruṣottama underlying expansions.

Application: Employ the numeric cues as a japa-counting aid; keep a written/mental map of names to avoid distraction during recitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45.28 (vyūha schema); Garuda Purana 1.45.30 (ten and twelvefold forms)

Characters & Entities

• Pradyumna
• Saṅkarṣaṇa
• Puruṣottama
• Navavyūha

FAQs

What is the importance of the Navavyūha in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse treats the Navavyūha as a structured theological mapping of Viṣṇu’s emanational forms, used for identification and contemplation through specific name/letter (syllable) designations.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: rather than describing post-death travel, it provides a contemplative/theological framework (Viṣṇu’s emanations and their designations) that supports devotional focus—often presented in the text as a means to right understanding and spiritual uplift.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a guide for disciplined remembrance (japa/recitation and study) of Viṣṇu’s forms—treating divine names and their precise structure as aids to concentration, devotion, and ethical steadiness.