Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 140

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

अलर्कस्य हितश्चैव कार्तवीर्यनिकृन्तनः (८८०) / कालनेमिर्महानेमिर्मेघो मेघपतिस्तथा

Transliteration

alarkasya hitaścaiva kārtavīryanikṛntanaḥ (880) / kālanemirmahānemirmegho meghapatistathā

Translation

On se souvient aussi de lui comme du bienfaiteur d’Alarka et du pourfendeur de Kārtavīrya. Il est Kālanemi, Mahānemi, Megha, et aussi Meghapati.

Word by Word

• अलर्कस्य: of Alarka (name)
• अलर्कस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (proper name)

• हितः: beneficial; well-wisher
• हितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हि (धातु: to benefit) → हित (कृत्/निष्ठा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त (past passive participle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle)

• कार्तवीर्यनिकृन्तनः: slayer of Kārtavīrya
• कार्तवीर्यनिकृन्तनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तवीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नि- कृन्त् (धातु) → निकृन्तन (कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कार्तवीर्यस्य निकृन्तनः = cutter/slayer of Kārtavīrya)

• कालनेमिः: Kālanemi (name)
• कालनेमिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालनेमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (कालः नेमिः यस्य/काल-नेमिः as a name)

• महानेमिः: Mahānemi (name / great-rimmed one)
• महानेमिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महान् (प्रातिपदिक) + नेमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् नेमिः = great-rimmed; also proper name)

• मेघः: cloud; Megha (name)
• मेघः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मेघपतिः: lord of clouds
• मेघपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मेघानां पतिः = lord of clouds)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The One Lord is remembered through many names spanning beneficence, destruction of arrogance, and governance of natural forces (clouds).

Vedantic Theme: Saguna Brahman as manifold functions; unity behind diverse nāma-rūpa.

Application: Use nāma-smaraṇa to see divinity in history and nature; interpret ‘slaying’ as removal of ego and misuse of power.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (continued nāma-kathana sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Alarka
• Kartavirya Arjuna
• Kalanemi
• Mahanemi
• Megha
• Meghapati

FAQs

What is the importance of listing divine names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves specific epithets of the Lord, teaching devotees to remember His protective and righteous acts (anugraha and dharma-saṁsthāpana) through concentrated name-recitation.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader spiritual aims?

By recalling the Lord as benefactor and destroyer of adharmic power, the text links devotion (smaraṇa) with moral order—supporting the Purana’s larger guidance on righteous living and spiritual preparedness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these names in daily japa or prayer as a reminder to seek protection through dharma and to restrain ego and misuse of power, aligning actions with righteousness.