Shloka 73
Yayāti’s Ascent to Heaven
and Entry into Vaikuṇṭha
वैनतेयसमारूढं श्रियायुक्तं परात्परम् । सर्वेषां देवलोकानां यो गतिः परमेश्वरः
vainateyasamārūḍhaṃ śriyāyuktaṃ parātparam | sarveṣāṃ devalokānāṃ yo gatiḥ parameśvaraḥ
Auf Vainateya (Garuḍa) reitend, mit Śrī (Lakṣmī) vereint, jenseits des Höchsten erhaben—Er, der Paramēśvara, ist Zuflucht und höchstes Ziel aller Götterwelten.
Unspecified (contextual narrator/praise-verse within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Viṣṇu, united with Śrī, is the supreme transcendence and the ultimate goal of all beings, including the devas.
Application: Cultivate śaraṇāgati: begin worship by remembering Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa with Lakṣmī, offering one’s anxieties and aims to Him as the final gati; keep a daily moment of ‘Garuḍa-dhvaja’ remembrance before decisions.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa appears enthroned upon Garuḍa mid-sky, Lakṣmī close at His side, both radiating a calm yet overwhelming transcendence. Below, layered devalokas shimmer like terraces of light, their inhabitants turning upward as if drawn by an unseen current of refuge.","primary_figures":["Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu)","Garuḍa (Vainateya)","Lakṣmī (Śrī)","Devas (as distant attendants)"],"setting":"Celestial expanse above devalokas; faint outlines of jeweled vimānas and cloud-palaces; a cosmic horizon suggesting the worlds of gods.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","lotus pink","gold leaf","pearl white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa seated upon Garuḍa with Lakṣmī beside Him, heavy gold leaf halo and prabhāmaṇḍala, rich vermilion and emerald garments, gem-studded crowns, stylized devaloka tiers below with miniature devas, ornate arch frame, embossed gold detailing on jewelry and Garuḍa’s wings.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī poised on Garuḍa gliding over soft cloud-banks, delicate brushwork on feathers, cool blues and pale golds, refined faces, distant celestial palaces like misty terraces, lyrical sense of height and quiet refuge.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Bold black outlines, Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa with large expressive eyes, Lakṣmī close and symmetrical, Garuḍa’s wings patterned in rhythmic motifs, red-yellow-green natural pigments, temple-wall composition with a radiant circular halo and stylized devas in the margins.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Central Śrīman-Nārāyaṇa with Lakṣmī on Garuḍa above a lotus-filled cosmic lake motif, intricate floral borders, deep indigo background with gold highlights, peacocks and stylized clouds framing the ‘ultimate refuge’ theme, ornate textile-like patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","sustained tanpura drone","soft cymbals","silence between pādas"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: परात्परम् = परात् + परम्; वैनतेयसमारूढं = वैनतेय + समारूढम्
FAQs
Vainateya is Garuḍa, the divine eagle and vehicle of Viṣṇu. Mentioning Viṣṇu as “mounted on Vainateya” signals classic Vaiṣṇava iconography and emphasizes divine sovereignty and swiftness in protecting devotees.
“Śriyāyuktam” means “united with Śrī (Lakṣmī).” It presents the Lord as inseparable from auspiciousness, prosperity, and grace—implying that refuge in Him includes both spiritual liberation and divine favor.
By calling Him the “gatiḥ” (final goal/refuge) even of the heavenly worlds, the verse teaches that all realms—including divine heavens—ultimately depend on the Supreme, and that the highest aim is not merely heaven but the Supreme Lord Himself.