Shloka 101

Devanagari script

असारे दुर्गसंसारे षट्पदी भक्तिदायिनी / नमो भगवते वासुदेवायेति जपन्नरः

Transliteration

asāre durgasaṃsāre ṣaṭpadī bhaktidāyinī / namo bhagavate vāsudevāyeti japannaraḥ

Translation

In this insubstantial and hard-to-cross cycle of worldly existence, the six-word mantra bestows devotion: one who repeats, “Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya—obeisance to the Blessed Lord Vāsudeva,” is led toward liberation.

Word by Word

• असारे: in the insubstantial (world)
• असारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying संसार)

• दुर्गसंसारे: in the hard-to-cross worldly cycle
• दुर्गसंसारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग + संसार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दुर्गः संसारः)

• षट्पदी: six-footed (hymn/verse)
• षट्पदी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (षट् पदानि यस्याः)

• भक्तिदायिनी: bestowing devotion
• भक्तिदायिनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + दायिन् (दा धातु, णिनि-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (भक्तिं ददाति इति)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय-निपात (indeclinable interjection used with dative)

• भगवते: to the Blessed Lord
• भगवते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• वासुदेवाय: to Vasudeva
• वासुदेवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, इत्यादि-उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• जपन्: chanting/reciting
• जपन्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त), प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; 'chanting' (participle)

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The ṣaṭpadī mantra ‘namo bhagavate vāsudevāya’ bestows bhakti in the harsh saṃsāra; japa is the operative means.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma/mantra as direct sādhana: devotion purifies antaḥkaraṇa, leading toward liberation; Vāsudeva as the inner Self-support (antaryāmin) in Vaiṣṇava framing.

Application: Daily japa of ‘oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya’ (or without oṃ as appropriate), with attention and ethical living; use during anxiety, illness, and at antima-kāla.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: metaphorical terrain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana mantra and nāma-mahātmyas in the same teaching unit (2.32.99–102); Garuda Purana passages praising Viṣṇu-nāma as destroyer of pāpa and giver of gati

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva
• Bhagavan

FAQs

What is the importance of the “Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya” mantra in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents it as a six-word mantra that generates bhakti and becomes a dependable support for crossing the fearsome, unstable saṃsāra—hence recommended as a powerful practice for spiritual deliverance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing nāma-japa as a means to cultivate devotion, the verse implies inner purification and divine refuge—key aids for the jīva’s onward journey beyond the uncertainties of worldly existence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily japa of “Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya” with steady attention and ethical living; it strengthens devotion, reduces fear of impermanence, and supports a sattvic life aligned with dharma.