Shloka 2

Devanagari script

शखचक्रगदापद्मी (हस्तः) (केशवाख्यो) गदाधरः / सब्जकौमादकीचक्रशङ्खी (नारायणो) विभुः

Transliteration

śakhacakragadāpadmī (hastaḥ) (keśavākhyo) gadādharaḥ / sabjakaumādakīcakraśaṅkhī (nārāyaṇo) vibhuḥ

Translation

He who bears in His hands the conch, discus, mace, and lotus is called Keśava—Gadādhara, the wielder of the mace. The all-pervading Lord is Nārāyaṇa, bearing the radiant Kaumodakī mace, the discus, and the conch.

Word by Word

• śaṅkha: conch
• śaṅkha: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• cakra: discus
• cakra: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• gadā: mace
• gadā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• padmī: lotus-bearing
• padmī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padma + -in (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुवस्तुधारक-विशेषण: 'having a lotus' (padma-धारिन्)

• hastaḥ: hand (armed hand)
• hastaḥ: Karta/Predicative (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (parenthetical in text)

• keśavākhyaḥ: named Keśava
• keśavākhyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: keśava + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'keśava-नामकः' (called Keśava)

• gadādharaḥ: Gadādhara (mace-bearer)
• gadādharaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā + dhara (प्रातिपदिक; from √dhṛ/धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'gadāṃ dharati' (mace-bearer)

• sa: with
• sa: Sambandha (Association marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्)
• Form: अव्यय (सह/युक्त अर्थे), here as prefix-like 'with' in compound-context

• abja: lotus
• abja: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद); 'lotus'

• kaumodakī: Kaumodakī (Vishnu's mace)
• kaumodakī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaumodakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद); विष्णोः गदा-विशेषः

• cakra: discus
• cakra: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• śaṅkhī: conch-bearing
• śaṅkhī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha + -in (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'śaṅkha-धारिन्' (conch-bearing)

• nārāyaṇaḥ: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇaḥ: Karta/Predicative (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (parenthetical in text)

• vibhuḥ: the all-pervading Lord
• vibhuḥ: Karta/Predicative (Predicate noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-rūpa correspondence: specific divine names are invoked through contemplation of Viṣṇu’s attributes (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma).

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahman upāsanā: the all-pervading (vibhu) is approached through a concrete, auspicious form.

Application: Use this as a dhyāna-śloka during pūjā: visualize the four emblems and recite Keśava/Nārāyaṇa to steady attention and devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: iconic/temple-arcā context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45: sequence of Viṣṇu-nāma linked to weapon/hand arrangements (iconographic litany)

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Nārāyaṇa
• Kaumodakī

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s conch, discus, mace, and lotus in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses Vishnu’s four emblems to identify and glorify Him as Keśava and Nārāyaṇa, emphasizing devotional remembrance through His recognizable divine attributes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by centering the teaching on Nārāyaṇa’s all-pervading nature and sacred remembrance, it frames devotion to Vishnu as a stabilizing spiritual support amid Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on death and the hereafter.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these identifiers (conch–discus–mace–lotus; Keśava; Nārāyaṇa) in daily japa, prayer, or meditation to cultivate steady bhakti and God-remembrance.