Shloka 13

Śiva’s Narasiṃha-Stotra and the Pacification of the Mātṛgaṇas

Devanagari script

नखमण्डलसभिन्नहेमपिङ्गलविग्रह / नमो ऽस्तु पद्मनाभाय शोभनाय जगद्गुरो / कल्पान्ताम्भोदनिर्घोष सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ

Transliteration

nakhamaṇḍalasabhinnahemapiṅgalavigraha / namo 'stu padmanābhāya śobhanāya jagadguro / kalpāntāmbhodanirghoṣa sūryakoṭisamaprabha

Translation

Salve a Padmanābha, el hermoso Maestro del mundo; de cuerpo dorado y leonino, como realzado por los círculos de Sus uñas; cuyo rugido es como el trueno de las nubes al fin de un kalpa, y cuyo fulgor iguala al de diez millones de soles.

Word by Word

• नखमण्डलसभिन्नहेमपिङ्गलविग्रह: O one whose golden-tawny body is split/marked by circles of nails
• नखमण्डलसभिन्नहेमपिङ्गलविग्रह: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नख + मण्डल + सभिन्न (कृदन्त; from √भिद्, क्त) + हेम + पिङ्गल + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; बहुपद-समासः—तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समुच्चयः, अर्थः ‘नख-मण्डलैः सभिन्नं हेम-पिङ्गलं यस्य विग्रहः’

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Karma/Offering (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नमः-प्रयोगः

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive use), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• पद्मनाभाय: to Padmanabha (lotus-naveled)
• पद्मनाभाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + नाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘पद्मं नाभौ यस्य’)

• शोभनाय: to the splendid one
• शोभनाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पद्मनाभाय)

• जगद्गुरो: O teacher of the world
• जगद्गुरो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: जगतः गुरुः)

• कल्पान्ताम्भोदनिर्घोष: O one whose roar is like clouds at the end of the aeon
• कल्पान्ताम्भोदनिर्घोष: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पान्त + अम्भोद + निर्घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (निर्घोषः यस्य; ‘having the roar of clouds at the end of an aeon’)

• सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ: O one with radiance equal to ten million suns
• सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य + कोटि + सम + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (उपमान-तत्पुरुष: सूर्यकोट्या समा प्रभा यस्य)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), offering praise to Lord Vishnu (Padmanabha)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Stuti as contemplative theology: the Lord is Padmanābha (cosmic source) and Jagadguru (inner teacher), whose power transcends time (kalpānta) and illumines consciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman/Īśvara as jyoti (light) and kāla-atiīta (beyond time); the guru principle as divine guidance within the cosmos.

Application: Use stotra to reframe fear and impermanence: contemplate the Lord as the stable light beyond life’s ‘kalpānta’ moments; seek guidance through prayer and ethical clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: emphasis on Viṣṇu as refuge and teacher; stotra passages describing cosmic radiance

Characters & Entities

• Padmanabha
• Jagadguru
• Surya

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Padmanabha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the teaching as sacred instruction received under Vishnu’s supreme authority, emphasizing devotion and reverence before discussing profound topics like dharma and the soul’s destiny.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue structure?

It functions as a stuti (hymn of praise) spoken by Garuda to Vishnu, marking the devotional tone and establishing Vishnu as the jagadguru whose revelations guide the narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin serious spiritual study or ritual practice with humility and remembrance of the divine source of wisdom, cultivating steadiness, gratitude, and ethical clarity.