Shloka 25

Santaptaka’s Encounter with Five Pretas and Their Liberation through Viṣṇu’s Presence

Devanagari script

जगाम मनसा मां स शरणं भयविह्वलः / नमश्चक्रे चक्रधरं चेतसा चिन्मयं समम्

Transliteration

jagāma manasā māṃ sa śaraṇaṃ bhayavihvalaḥ / namaścakre cakradharaṃ cetasā cinmayaṃ samam

Translation

Von Furcht erschüttert suchte er in seinem Geist Zuflucht bei Mir; und mit dem Herzen verneigte er sich vor dem Herrn, der das Cakra trägt—dem reinen Bewusstsein selbst, dem ewig Gleichmütigen.

Word by Word

• जगाम: went, resorted
• जगाम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: गम् (to go)

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन (करण)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (गत्यर्थे/प्राप्त्यर्थे)

• भय: fear
• भय: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तत्पुरुषसमासे पूर्वपद

• विह्वलः: agitated
• विह्वलः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; (भयविह्वलः = भयेन विह्वलः)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः ‘नमः’ (salutation)

• चक्रे: made, performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (आत्मनेपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: कृ (to do)

• चक्रधरम्: the discus-bearer (Vishnu)
• चक्रधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चक्रं धरति इति)

• चेतसा: with the mind/heart
• चेतसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचन (करण)

• चिन्मयम्: made of consciousness
• चिन्मयम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चिद्रूपः)

• समम्: equal, even, tranquil
• समम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration within Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mental refuge and namaskara to Chakradhara as pure consciousness and samatva (equanimity) dispels terror.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara as chit-svarupa and the stabilizing power of samatva; bhakti leading toward shanta.

Application: Practice nāma-smaraṇa and inner prostration during anxiety; cultivate equanimity by contemplating the Lord as pure consciousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner mind-space (manas) during liminal transit

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on Vishnu-smriti at death as a saving support (general parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Chakradhara (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of taking refuge in Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights inner surrender (mental refuge and heartfelt obeisance) as a stabilizing spiritual act when fear arises, pointing to Vishnu as the ultimate protector and steady consciousness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in fearful after-death conditions?

It implies that when the being is overwhelmed by fear, remembrance and surrender to the Discus-bearing Lord becomes the inward refuge—suggesting a devotional anchor amid the unsettling experiences described in the Preta context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily remembrance and humility—mentally taking refuge in the Divine and offering reverence—so equanimity can arise even during anxiety, loss, or the approach of death.