Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

शालग्रामशिलाद्वारगतलग्नद्विचक्रधृक् / शुक्लाभो(वासुदेवाख्यः) सो ऽव्याद्वः श्रीगदाधरः

Transliteration

śālagrāmaśilādvāragatalagnadvicakradhṛk / śuklābho(vāsudevākhyaḥ) so 'vyādvaḥ śrīgadādharaḥ

Translation

May Śrī Gadādhara—known as Vāsudeva, radiant white in hue, bearing the two discus-emblems affixed at the entrance of the Śālagrāma-stone shrine—protect you.

Word by Word

• शालग्रामशिलाद्वारगतलग्नद्विचक्रधृक्: the bearer of the two discs affixed at the doorway of the Śālagrāma-stone
• शालग्रामशिलाद्वारगतलग्नद्विचक्रधृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त) + लग्न (कृदन्त) + द्वि (संख्या) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक्/धृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः: शालग्राम-शिला-द्वार-गत-लग्न-द्वि-चक्र-धृक् = ‘शालग्रामशिलायाः द्वारे गतं लग्नं द्विचक्रं धारयति’ (धृक् = धृ-धातोः क्विप्)

• शुक्लाभः: white-radiant
• शुक्लाभः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुक्लः आभः यस्य)

• वासुदेवाख्यः: named Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवाख्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वासुदेव इति आख्यः/नाम यस्य)

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

• अव्यात्: may (he) protect
• अव्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आशीर्लिङ्-प्रायः), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘अव्’ = रक्षणे

• वः: you (all)
• वः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/द्वितीया (Genitive/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; अत्र रक्षणकर्मणि कर्मरूपेण (you all)

• श्रीगदाधरः: the glorious bearer of the mace
• श्रीगदाधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गदां धरति) + ‘श्री’ उपपद-विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Arcā-upāsanā and rakṣā: the Lord’s presence in Śālagrāma and at thresholds protects devotees; form and symbol (cakra marks) are vehicles of grace.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s immanence (arcā-avatāra) accessible to householders; devotion to a tangible support steadies the mind toward śānti and mokṣa.

Application: Maintain a clean worship-space; if one keeps Śālagrāma, perform respectful daily upacāras; use the verse as a protective prayer at home entrances or before travel.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred river/stone-tirtha (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45 (Śālagrāma-related protective stuti; Vāsudeva/Gadādhara epithets)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Śrī Gadādhara
• Śālagrāma
• Cakra (Sudarśana)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma-śilā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śālagrāma as a direct emblem of Viṣṇu (Vāsudeva/Gadādhara), invoking it as a source of auspicious protection and sanctity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by centering divine protection and devotion to Viṣṇu (Gadādhara/Vāsudeva), it frames dharmic living and worship as supports for spiritual well-being—key themes that later connect to post-death guidance in the Purāṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a reverent worship space (especially for Viṣṇu/Śālagrāma traditions), and use the verse as a protective invocation (rakṣā-prārthanā) to cultivate sattva, discipline, and devotion.