Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

पद्मशङ्खारिगादिने (विष्णुरूपाय) ते नमः / सशङ्खाब्जगदाचक्र (मधुसूदनमूर्तये)

Transliteration

padmaśaṅkhārigādine (viṣṇurūpāya) te namaḥ / saśaṅkhābjagadācakra (madhusūdanamūrtaye)

Translation

Ehrerbietung Dir, in der Gestalt Viṣṇus, der Lotos, Muschel, Schwert und Keule trägt. Ehrerbietung der Erscheinung Madhusūdanas, die Muschel, Lotos, Keule und Diskus hält.

Word by Word

• padma: lotus
• padma: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• śaṅkha: conch
• śaṅkha: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• ari: enemy; foe
• ari: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद); here likely 'cakra' intended? but text has 'ari' (enemy/foe) used as epithet-member

• gadā: mace
• gadā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• dine: to the bearer/giver of lotus, conch, (ari), and mace
• dine: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: din (प्रातिपदिक; from √dā/दा? here 'dī' not; better: -din suffix 'having/giving')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; 'padma-śaṅkha-ari-gadā-din' = 'to the giver/bearer of ...' (dative epithet)

• viṣṇurūpāya: to (one) in the form of Vishnu
• viṣṇurūpāya: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'viṣṇoḥ rūpam' (in the form of Viṣṇu)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th) एकवचन (ते = 'to you')

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (Salutation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (नमस्कारार्थक; indeclinable interjection)

• sa: with
• sa: Sambandha (Association marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सह/युक्त अर्थे)

• śaṅkha: conch
• śaṅkha: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• abja: lotus
• abja: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• gadā: mace
• gadā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• cakra: discus
• cakra: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• madhusūdanamūrtaye: to the form of Madhusūdana
• madhusūdanamūrtaye: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhusūdana + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'madhusūdanस्य mūrtiḥ'

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati through repeated salutations to the emblem-bearing Viṣṇu/Madhusūdana form.

Vedantic Theme: Devotional surrender to Saguna Īśvara as a stabilizing means toward inner peace (śānti) and purification.

Application: Use as a daily namaskāra before worship or at transitions (morning/evening), pairing visualization of emblems with gratitude and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: liturgical/temple setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45: stuti sequence of Viṣṇu-nāma and mūrti-bheda

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhusudana

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Vishnu (Madhusudana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a protective salutation (stuti), affirming Viṣṇu’s supreme guardianship through His iconic emblems, used to sanctify the discourse and seek spiritual protection.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: before teachings on dharma and post-death realities, the text anchors the listener in devotion to Viṣṇu, implying that remembrance of the Lord supports purity of mind and right orientation toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a brief daily prayer or before rituals/reading: contemplate the conch, discus, mace, and lotus as symbols of awakening, discernment, strength, and purity—guiding ethical choices and steady devotion.