Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

सारिशङ्खगदाब्जाय (वासुदेवाय) वै नमः / शङ्खाब्जचक्रगादिने नमः (सङ्कर्षणाय) च

Transliteration

sāriśaṅkhagadābjāya (vāsudevāya) vai namaḥ / śaṅkhābjacakragādine namaḥ (saṅkarṣaṇāya) ca

Translation

Salutations indeed to Vāsudeva, who bears the plough (or sword), conch, mace, and lotus. And salutations also to Saṅkarṣaṇa, who bears the conch, lotus, discus, and mace.

Word by Word

• sa-ari-śaṅkha-gadā-abjāya: to (him) with discus, conch, mace, and lotus
• sa-ari-śaṅkha-gadā-abjāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (स- ‘सह’) + ari (प्रातिपदिक; अरि ‘शत्रु’/यहाँ ‘चक्र’ के पर्याय ‘अरि’=सुदर्शन) + śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + abja/padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘अरि(चक्र)शङ्खगदाब्जैः सह’

• vāsudevāya: to Vāsudeva
• vāsudevāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Discourse (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Prayojaka/Discourse (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपातः

• śaṅkha-abja-cakra-gadā-dine: to the bearer of conch, lotus, discus, and mace
• śaṅkha-abja-cakra-gadā-dine: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + abja/padma (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + -dhin/-din (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धृ धातु से ‘धारिन्’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘शङ्खाब्जचक्रगदां धारयति’

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Prayojaka/Discourse (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपातः

• saṅkarṣaṇāya: to Saṅkarṣaṇa
• saṅkarṣaṇāya: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkarṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Discourse (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice of the Garuḍa Purāṇa dialogue to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of the Lord through Vyūha manifestations (Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa) and their emblematic identifiers; devotion structured by theological mapping.

Vedantic Theme: One Brahman/Īśvara appearing as functional emanations for creation/order; unity-in-manifestation supporting non-confused devotion.

Application: In pūjā or japa, rotate salutations through Vyūha names to cultivate comprehensive remembrance; pair each name with a brief visualization of the held emblems.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45.6-10 (sequence of Vyūha-related salutations: Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Saṅkarṣaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse functions as a devotional salutation (namaḥ) that centers the mind on Viṣṇu’s protecting forms, establishing purity and auspiciousness for the surrounding teaching or ritual context.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by invoking Viṣṇu’s divine forms and symbols, it emphasizes refuge in the Lord as spiritual support—an idea repeatedly used in Purāṇic teachings about fearlessness, purification, and ultimate liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short daily nāma-salutation before prayer, śrāddha-related devotion, or study—cultivating steadiness, remembrance of dharma, and a protective devotional orientation.