Shloka 59

Hari-stuti by Śrī, Brahmā, Vāyu, Sarasvatī, Śeṣa, Garuḍa, Rudra, Vāruṇī and Pārvatī

Humility, Surrender, and the Power of the Name

Devanagari script

नामाधिकारिणी चाहं गुणानां च महाप्रभो / स्तवने नास्ति मे शक्ती रुद्राद्दशगुणैरहम्

Transliteration

nāmādhikāriṇī cāhaṃ guṇānāṃ ca mahāprabho / stavane nāsti me śaktī rudrāddaśaguṇairaham

Translation

Oh gran Señor, yo presido sobre los nombres y también sobre las cualidades; sin embargo, no tengo fuerza para alabarte como corresponde: aun así, soy diez veces inferior a Rudra.

Word by Word

• नाम-अधिकारिणी: one having authority over names
• नाम-अधिकारिणी: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिकारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नाम्नि अधिकारः यस्याः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular pronoun

• गुणानाम्: of qualities
• गुणानाम्: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• महाप्रभो: O great lord
• महाप्रभो: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative singular; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् प्रभुः)

• स्तवने: in praising
• स्तवने: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• अस्ति: is
• अस्ति: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; present indicative 3rd sg

• मे: my
• मे: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6/षष्ठी), एकवचन; genitive singular pronoun

• शक्तिः: ability/power
• शक्तिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular

• रुद्रात्: than Rudra
• रुद्रात्: अपादान (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; ablative singular

• दश-गुणैः: by tenfold measures / ten times
• दश-गुणैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/तृतीया), बहुवचन; instrumental plural; समासः—द्विगु (दश गुणाः)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular pronoun

Speaker

A personified divine power associated with nāma (name) and guṇa (qualities)—contextually a humble speaker addressing the Supreme (likely Lord Vishnu) within the Garuda Purana dialogue framework

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Humility (dainya) as an ornament of devotion; the Supreme exceeds nāma and guṇa, hence praise is inherently limited.

Vedantic Theme: Nirguṇa transcendence over guṇa and nāma; apophatic reverence—language cannot exhaust the Absolute.

Application: Approach worship and learning with humility; treat spiritual language as pointer, not possession; avoid pride in scholarship or eloquence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.6.56 (sequence of stotras); Garuda Purana 3.6.60 (Girijā concludes in silence)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of humility in Garuda Purana devotional verses?

This verse teaches that even exalted cosmic powers tied to speech (names) and attributes (qualities) admit their limits in praising the Supreme, making humility a core mood of authentic stuti (praise).

How does this verse relate to understanding divine attributes (guṇas) in worship?

It suggests that while names and qualities help devotees approach God, the Supreme exceeds complete description—so devotion is supported by language but is not confined to it.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use sacred names and qualities for prayer and remembrance, but cultivate sincerity and humility—accepting that spiritual practice is more than perfect words.