Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

(महेश्वरः) प्रञ्चवक्रो दशबाहुर्वृषध्वजः / यथायुधस्तथा गौरी चण्डिका च सरस्वती

Transliteration

(maheśvaraḥ) prañcavakro daśabāhurvṛṣadhvajaḥ / yathāyudhastathā gaurī caṇḍikā ca sarasvatī

Translation

(Maheśvara) is five-faced, ten-armed, bearing the bull as his emblem. In the same manner—armed as is fitting—are (the goddesses) Gaurī, Caṇḍikā, and Sarasvatī.

Word by Word

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• प्रञ्चवक्रः: having five faces
• प्रञ्चवक्रः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दशबाहुः: ten-armed
• दशबाहुः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वृषध्वजः: whose banner is the bull
• वृषध्वजः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यथायुधः: with appropriate weapons (as per form)
• यथायुधः: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Correlative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb/correlative)

• गौरी: Gaurī
• गौरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चण्डिका: Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चण्डिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda/Vinata-putra) (contextual attribution typical of Garuda Purana dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of deity-forms (Shiva and Shakti) as empowered protectors; harmonizing multiple devata-upasana within a Vishnu-centered puranic frame.

Vedantic Theme: Unity-in-diversity: many forms as functional manifestations within the cosmic order; saguna-upasana stabilizes mind and invokes grace.

Application: During puja or stotra, visualize Maheshvara as five-faced and ten-armed with vrsabha-dhvaja; invoke Gauri/Chandika/Sarasvati with their respective weapons/attributes for protection, courage, and clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/visualization

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana’s devotional catalogues of devata-forms used in temple worship and protective rites (raksha)

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Gauri (Parvati)
• Chandika (Durga)
• Sarasvati

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Maheshvara as five-faced and ten-armed in the Garuda Purana?

It highlights Shiva’s cosmic, multi-aspect sovereignty and protective power, using iconographic markers (faces, arms, banner) to convey divine functions and supremacy.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it focuses on divine forms and their attributes, likely as part of a broader descriptive or devotional passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse for devotional remembrance (smaraṇa) and focused worship—contemplating divine qualities like protection, wisdom, and righteous strength symbolized by these forms.