Shloka 8

Haristuti-saṅgraha: Devatā–Ṛṣi Praṇāma, Nāma-māhātmya, and Vairāgya from Deha-āsakti

Devanagari script

शच्युवाच / संचिन्तयामि अनिशं तव पादपद्मं वज्राङ्कुशध्वजसरोरुहलाञ्छनाढ्यम् / वागीश्वरैरपि सदा मनसापि धर्तुं नो शक्यमीश तव पादरजः स्मरामि

Transliteration

śacyuvāca / saṃcintayāmi aniśaṃ tava pādapadmaṃ vajrāṅkuśadhvajasaroruhalāñchanāḍhyam / vāgīśvarairapi sadā manasāpi dhartuṃ no śakyamīśa tava pādarajaḥ smarāmi

Translation

Śacī sprach: Unablässig sinne ich über Deine Lotosfüße nach, geschmückt mit den glückverheißenden Zeichen—Vajra, Aṅkuśa, Banner und Lotos. Selbst die Herren der Rede vermögen sie nicht immer im Geist zu halten; o Herr, darum gedenke ich des Staubes Deiner Füße.

Word by Word

• śacī: Śacī
• śacī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• saṃcintayāmi: I contemplate/meditate upon
• saṃcintayāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-cint (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• aniśam: unceasingly
• aniśam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aniśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pāda-padmam: the lotus of (your) foot
• pāda-padmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य पद्मम्)

• vajra-aṅkuśa-dhvaja-saroruha-lāñchana-āḍhyam: adorned with marks like vajra, goad, banner, lotus, etc.
• vajra-aṅkuśa-dhvaja-saroruha-lāñchana-āḍhyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅkuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + saroruha (प्रातिपदिक) + lāñchana (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘वज्रादि-लाञ्छनैः आढ्यम्’ (endowed with marks such as thunderbolt, goad, banner, lotus)

• vāgīśvaraiḥ: by lords of speech (great speakers)
• vāgīśvaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāgīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (also/even)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थ (even)

• dhartum: to hold/retain (in mind)
• dhartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive/तुमन्त), ‘धर्तुम्’

• naḥ: for us/of us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘अस्माकम्’ अर्थे

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; शक्-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (possible)

• īśa: O Lord
• īśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pāda-rajaḥ: the dust of (your) feet
• pāda-rajaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य रजः)

• smarāmi: I remember
• smarāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Śacī (Indrāṇī), consort of Indra

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Remembrance of the Lord’s feet (and even their dust) is a complete devotional refuge beyond the reach of mere eloquence.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as a direct means when vāg and manas are limited; the Lord’s auspiciousness (maṅgala-lakṣaṇa) as revelation of transcendence within form (saguṇa).

Application: Adopt pāda-smaraṇa: daily japa/meditation on Viṣṇu’s feet; cultivate humility—seek ‘pāda-rajas’ (service, discipleship, and reverence) rather than intellectual mastery.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.7.6 (aprameya Lord; plea for divine abode); Garuda Purana 3.7.9 (bondage by guṇas; plea for protection)

Characters & Entities

• Śacī
• Īśa (the Lord, implied as Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering the Lord’s lotus-feet in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents constant remembrance of the Lord’s feet as a supreme devotional support, emphasizing humility: even great masters of speech cannot fully grasp His glory, so one takes refuge in His pāda-raja (the sanctifying dust of His feet).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing post-death travel directly, it frames bhakti—steady contemplation and remembrance of the Lord—as the inner refuge that carries the devotee beyond fear and limitation, a recurring Garuda Purana theme when discussing liberation and protection.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily practice of nāma-smaraṇa or brief meditation on the Lord’s lotus-feet, cultivating humility and steadiness—especially during anxiety, grief, or rites connected with death and remembrance.