Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

(लक्ष्मीनारायणो) द्वाभ्यान्त्रिभिर्मूर्ति(स्त्रिविक्रमः) / चतुर्भिश्च (चतुर्व्यूहो) (वासुदेवश्च) पञ्चभिः

Transliteration

(lakṣmīnārāyaṇo) dvābhyāntribhirmūrti(strivikramaḥ) / caturbhiśca (caturvyūho) (vāsudevaśca) pañcabhiḥ

Translation

With two (forms/designations) He is Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa; with three, He is Mūrti and Trivikrama; with four, He is the Fourfold Emanation (Caturvyūha); and with five, He is Vāsudeva as well.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मीनारायणः: Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa
• लक्ष्मीनारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• द्वाभ्याम्: by two
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक

• त्रिभिः: by three
• त्रिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• मूर्तिः: form, manifestation
• मूर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रिविक्रमः: Trivikrama
• त्रिविक्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्रीणि विक्रमाणि यस्य)

• चतुर्भिः: by four
• चतुर्भिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चतुर्व्यूहः: the fourfold emanation (Caturvyūha)
• चतुर्व्यूहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यूह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चत्वारः व्यूहाः यस्य)

• वासुदेवः: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पञ्चभिः: by five
• पञ्चभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Eka-īśvara appearing as many: graded manifestation without loss of unity.

Vedantic Theme: Abheda with vyavahāra-bheda: one Brahman/Īśvara spoken of through multiple upāsanā-forms; pañcarātra-like vyūha doctrine resonates.

Application: Use the numeric mapping as a mnemonic for japa/arcana sequencing; reflect that diversity of names points to one refuge.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45.29-30 (continuation of numeric designations)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Narayana
• Trivikrama
• Caturvyuha
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What is the importance of the Caturvyūha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse points to Viṣṇu’s fourfold emanation (Caturvyūha), a key Vaiṣṇava teaching that explains how the one Supreme Lord functions through distinct divine aspects for creation, preservation, and guidance of devotees.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames liberation as rooted in knowing and worshiping Viṣṇu in His recognized forms—implying that right understanding (tattva-jñāna) and devotion to the Lord are foundational supports for the soul’s ultimate good.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a contemplative map of Viṣṇu’s forms—strengthening devotion through nāma-smaraṇa (remembrance of divine names) and aligning daily conduct with dharma under the protection of Nārāyaṇa.