Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

कदम्बकुसुमाकारो (लक्ष्मीनारायणो)ऽवतु / एकेन लक्षितो योव्याद्रदाधारी (सुदर्शनः)

Transliteration

kadambakusumākāro (lakṣmīnārāyaṇo)'vatu / ekena lakṣito yovyādradādhārī (sudarśanaḥ)

Translation

May Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa—whose form resembles the kadamba flower—protect us; and may Sudarśana, the discus-bearer, known by a single mark, also protect us.

Word by Word

• कदम्बकुसुम-आकारः: having the form of a kadamba flower
• कदम्बकुसुम-आकारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कदम्बकुसुमस्य आकारः)

• लक्ष्मीनारायणः: Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa
• लक्ष्मीनारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (लक्ष्मीश्च नारायणश्च—समाहार/युगल-नाम)

• अवतु: may (he) protect
• अवतु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• एकेन: by one (mark/line)
• एकेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-शब्दः

• लक्षितः: marked, indicated
• लक्षितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षित (कृदन्त; √लक्ष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• व्यात्: may be
• व्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• रदा-धारी: bearing a tusk/fang
• रदा-धारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धारी (कृदन्त; √धृ धातु, णिनि/इन्-प्रत्यय; धारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रदां धारयति)

• सुदर्शनः: Sudarśana (the auspicious/disc)
• सुदर्शनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं दर्शनं यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati: seeking protection through remembrance of the Lord and His Sudarśana (divine protective power).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) accessed through nāma-rūpa upāsanā; the weapon symbolizes dharma protecting the devotee.

Application: Recite as a rakṣā-mantra before travel, ritual, or sleep; visualize Sudarśana encircling as protective fire-light.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45.26 (iconographic setup); Garuda Purana 1.45.28-30 (enumerations of forms/vyūhas/avatāras)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi-Narayana
• Sudarshana (Chakra)

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa and Sudarśana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a protective invocation, calling upon Lord Viṣṇu with Lakṣmī and His Sudarśana-discus to guard the devotee from obstacles and harm.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing divine protection, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader theme that remembrance of Viṣṇu and sacred invocations help the jīva overcome fear and impediments during vulnerable transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short daily prayer for protection and steadiness—especially before travel, rituals, or times of anxiety—while cultivating devotion and ethical conduct aligned with Viṣṇu-dharma.