Shloka 18

Devanagari script

(वराहः) शक्तिलिङ्गो ऽव्याद्विषमद्वयचक्रकः

Transliteration

(varāhaḥ) śaktiliṅgo 'vyādviṣamadvayacakrakaḥ

Translation

May Varāha protect us—whose emblem is Power (Śakti), and who bears a pair of unequal discus-weapons.

Word by Word

• वराहः: Varāha
• वराहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• शक्तिलिङ्गः: marked with a spear/energy-sign
• शक्तिलिङ्गः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति-लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक; शक्ति + लिङ्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष, ‘शक्तेः लिङ्गं/चिह्नं यस्य’ इत्यर्थे; विशेषण

• अव्यात्: may (he) protect
• अव्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘रक्षतु’

• विषमद्वयचक्रकः: having two unequal wheels/discs
• विषमद्वयचक्रकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम-द्वय-चक्रक (प्रातिपदिक; विषम + द्वय + चक्रक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (बहुपद), ‘विषमे द्वे चक्रके यस्य’/‘विषमं द्वयं चक्रकं यस्य’; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (as a protective invocation within the Garuḍa Purāṇa narrative tradition)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine protection through Varāha characterized by śakti-linga (power-emblem) and dual unequal cakras—symbolizing irresistible safeguarding force.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as protector (rakṣaka) whose śakti operates in the world; surrender (śaraṇāgati) to the avatāra’s power.

Application: Invoke Varāha in times of fear/instability; visualize protective discus-weapons and stabilizing power lifting one from ‘depths’ (psychological or situational).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45 (protective invocations of Viṣṇu-forms)

Characters & Entities

• Varāha

FAQs

What is the importance of Varāha in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse invokes Varāha as a protective form of Viṣṇu, emphasizing divine safeguarding through the avatar’s power (śakti) and weaponry.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it functions as a protective invocation, implying that divine protection and remembrance of Viṣṇu support the seeker amid fear, obstacles, and transitional states described elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a brief daily remembrance or prayer for protection—cultivating steadiness, courage, and dharmic resolve in difficult situations.