Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

नानावर्णो ऽनेकमूर्तिर्नागभोगी (त्वनन्तकः) / स्थूलो (दामोदरो) नीलो मध्येवक्रः सुनीलकः

Transliteration

nānāvarṇo 'nekamūrtirnāgabhogī (tvanantakaḥ) / sthūlo (dāmodaro) nīlo madhyevakraḥ sunīlakaḥ

Translation

He is of many hues and of manifold forms; He bears the serpent as His couch (Anantaka). Mighty and full-bodied (Dāmodara), He is dark-blue in complexion, with a gentle curve at the waist, and radiant with deep sapphire-blue splendor.

Word by Word

• नानावर्णः: of many colors
• नानावर्णः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नानावर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; नाना + वर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival epithet)

• अनेकमूर्तिः: having many forms
• अनेकमूर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेकमूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक; अनेक + मूर्ति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नागभोगी: wearing/possessing serpent-coils
• नागभोगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नागभोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक; नाग + भोगिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अनन्तकः: Anantaka (the endless one)
• अनन्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (epithet)

• स्थूलः: large, stout
• स्थूलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• दामोदरः: Dāmodara
• दामोदरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दामोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• नीलः: dark-blue
• नीलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मध्येवक्रः: curved in the middle
• मध्येवक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्येवक्र (प्रातिपदिक; मध्ये + वक्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुनीलकः: very blue / beautifully blue
• सुनीलकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुनीलक (प्रातिपदिक; सु + नीलक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (descriptive eulogy within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smरण/ध्यान through nāma–rūpa: contemplating the Lord’s forms (Ananta, Dāmodara) and qualities as a protective, purifying act.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahman upāsanā leading the mind toward śānti and one-pointedness (ekāgratā).

Application: Use the epithets as a dhyāna-krama: visualize Ananta-śayana and repeat the names during japa for steadiness and fear-reduction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45 (protective/mark-description sequence around śālagrāma/dvārakā and Vishnu-nāma)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Ananta (Shesha)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s many forms and colors in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes Viṣṇu’s all-pervading nature—appearing in countless forms and attributes—supporting devotional remembrance through recognizable epithets like Anantaka and Dāmodara.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it anchors the teaching in devotion to Viṣṇu: remembering and praising the Lord through nāma and rūpa is presented as a stabilizing spiritual practice amid teachings on death, afterlife, and liberation found in the Garuḍa Purāṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the epithets here as a daily nāma-smaraṇa practice—recite and contemplate these qualities (many-formed, Ananta-supported, blue-hued) to cultivate steadiness, devotion, and ethical clarity.