Shloka 97

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

उत्कर्षनाम्नीं परमां च देवीं नमेद्रमां ब्रह्मवायू च शेषम् / दक्षस्थपद्मस्य दलाष्टके च नारायणाकारशेषादिकानाम्

Transliteration

utkarṣanāmnīṃ paramāṃ ca devīṃ namedramāṃ brahmavāyū ca śeṣam / dakṣasthapadmasya dalāṣṭake ca nārāyaṇākāraśeṣādikānām

Translation

Let one bow to the supreme Goddess named Utkarṣā; also to Indrāṇī; and to Brahmā, Vāyu, and Śeṣa—likewise to those beginning with Śeṣa who bear the form of Nārāyaṇa, seated upon the eight petals of the lotus on the right.

Word by Word

• utkarṣa-nāmnīm: (the goddess) named Utkarṣā
• utkarṣa-nāmnīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: utkarṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘named Utkarṣā’ (nāmnī = by name)

• paramām: supreme
• paramām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; superlative ‘supreme’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• devīm: the goddess
• devīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• namet: should bow
• namet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should bow’

• ramām: Ramā (Lakṣmī)
• ramām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; name of Lakṣmī

• brahma-vāyū: Brahmā and Vāyu
• brahma-vāyū: Samuccita (समुच्चित)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास; ‘Brahmā and Vāyu’ (as additional entities in the instruction context)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• śeṣam: Śeṣa
• śeṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; name Śeṣa

• dakṣa-stha-padmasya: of the right-situated lotus
• dakṣa-stha-padmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; ‘of the lotus situated on the right/south’

• dala-aṣṭake: in the eight-petalled set
• dala-aṣṭake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dala (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘in the set of eight petals’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• nārāyaṇa-ākāra-śeṣa-ādikānām: of those beginning with Śeṣa in Nārāyaṇa-form
• nārāyaṇa-ākāra-śeṣa-ādikānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक) + śeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘of those beginning with Śeṣa having the form of Nārāyaṇa’ (group/genitive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Salutation (namas) as a means to align the worshipper with a structured divine cosmos centered on Nārāyaṇa-ākāra manifestations.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as antaryāmin pervading forms and directions; unity of many deities in a Nārāyaṇa-centric vision.

Application: Perform mentally or ritually a lotus-visualization: place the named powers on the right-side petal(s) and offer namaskāra with steady breath and attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: mandala/lotus-seat (padma)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.98-101 (continuation of lotus-directional salutations)

Characters & Entities

• Utkarṣā (Devi)
• Indrāṇī (Śacī)
• Brahmā
• Vāyu
• Śeṣa
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking deities on the lotus petals in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a structured salutation/meditative placement of specific deities on the lotus’s eight petals, supporting focused worship and orderly visualization in Purāṇic practice.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on the soul’s journey after death?

Indirectly: such devatā-namaskāra and Nārāyaṇa-centered remembrance are taught as supportive spiritual disciplines that strengthen dharma and devotion, which the Garuda Purana links to auspicious outcomes beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a brief daily namaskāra: mentally salute the listed deities and center the mind on Nārāyaṇa, cultivating steadiness, reverence, and disciplined devotional attention.