Shloka 14

Brahma-dhyāna: From Purification to Samādhi

Meditation on Brahman and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

चतुर्विशतिमूर्तिः स शालग्रामशिलास्थितः / द्वारकादिशिलासंस्थो ध्येयः पूज्यो ऽप्यहं च सः

Transliteration

caturviśatimūrtiḥ sa śālagrāmaśilāsthitaḥ / dvārakādiśilāsaṃstho dhyeyaḥ pūjyo 'pyahaṃ ca saḥ

Translation

He, the Lord of the twenty-four forms, abides in the Śālagrāma stone; and likewise, established in sacred stones such as those from Dvārakā, he is to be meditated upon and worshipped—for he is indeed Me.

Word by Word

• चतुर्विंशति-मूर्तिः: the one with twenty-four forms
• चतुर्विंशति-मूर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्विंशति (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चतुर्विंशतिः मूर्तयः यस्य/या)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शालग्राम-शिला-स्थितः: abiding in the Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्राम-शिला-स्थितः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject attribute/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त; स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (शालग्रामशिलायां स्थितः)

• द्वारका-आदि-शिला-संस्थः: present in stones from Dvārakā etc.
• द्वारका-आदि-शिला-संस्थः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject attribute/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थ (कृदन्त; सम्+स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (द्वारकादि-शिलासु संस्थः)

• ध्येयः: to be meditated upon
• ध्येयः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject attribute/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (कृदन्त; ध्यै धातु, यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'to be meditated upon')

• पूज्यः: to be worshipped
• पूज्यः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject attribute/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त; पूज् धातु, यत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: 'to be worshipped')

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (additive particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Arcāvatāra theology: the Lord of twenty-four forms is present in Śālagrāma and other sacred stones; worthy of meditation and worship; non-difference of worshipped Lord and inner Self (‘so’ham’ sense).

Vedantic Theme: Saguna worship as a valid locus of Brahman; bhedābheda/abheda flavor—Lord in icon is not ‘mere symbol’ but a real upāsya for grace and realization.

Application: Establish a simple daily pūjā to Śālagrāma/Viṣṇu icon; combine dhyāna with ārādhana; treat the arcā with purity, regularity, and reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/arcā-vigraha locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.44.12 (Viṣṇu iconography for meditation); Garuda Purana 1.44.15 (dhyāna-stava-japa as means)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Śālagrāma
• Dvārakā

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that Viṣṇu truly abides in the Śālagrāma stone and is therefore directly fit for meditation (dhyāna) and worship (pūjā).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing devotion and worship of Viṣṇu in accessible sacred forms (Śālagrāma and other śilās), it points to bhakti-based purification that supports dharma and spiritual upliftment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat Śālagrāma (or other sanctioned sacred stones) as a direct focus of Viṣṇu-bhakti—practice regular, respectful pūjā and remembrance, grounding daily conduct in devotion and discipline.