Shloka 64

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

शय्याकाले संस्मरेच्चैव नित्यं संकर्षणाख्यं विष्णुरूपं हरिं च / निद्राकाले संस्मरेत्पद्मनामं कथाकाले व्यासरूपं हरिं च

Transliteration

śayyākāle saṃsmareccaiva nityaṃ saṃkarṣaṇākhyaṃ viṣṇurūpaṃ hariṃ ca / nidrākāle saṃsmaretpadmanāmaṃ kathākāle vyāsarūpaṃ hariṃ ca

Translation

Au moment de s’étendre sur le lit, qu’on se souvienne toujours de Hari sous la forme de Viṣṇu, nommé Saṅkarṣaṇa. Au moment de s’endormir, qu’on se souvienne de Lui comme Padmanāma ; et au temps du récit sacré (kathā), qu’on se souvienne de Hari sous la forme de Vyāsa.

Word by Word

• शय्याकाले: at bedtime
• शय्याकाले: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शय्या + काल; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should remember

• च: and
• च: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• संकर्षणाख्यम्: named Saṅkarṣaṇa
• संकर्षणाख्यम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकर्षण-आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संकर्षण + आख्य; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; विशेषण

• विष्णुरूपम्: the form of Vishnu
• विष्णुरूपम्: कर्म (Object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विष्णु + रूप; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• निद्राकाले: at the time of sleep
• निद्राकाले: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निद्रा-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निद्रा + काल; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should remember

• पद्मनामम्: Padmanāma (lotus-named)
• पद्मनामम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म-नाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पद्म + नाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कथाकाले: at the time of storytelling/discourse
• कथाकाले: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कथा + काल; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• व्यासरूपम्: the form of Vyāsa
• व्यासरूपम्: कर्म (Object/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: व्यास + रूप; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Assigning divine recollection to liminal states—rest, sleep, and sacred narration—so the mind remains tethered to Hari through changing consciousness.

Vedantic Theme: Continuity of smṛti across waking/sleep boundaries; īśvara as the inner support of all states (avasthā-traya awareness in devotional mode).

Application: Before bed, recite Saṅkarṣaṇa/Viṣṇu names; as sleep comes, gently repeat Padmanāma; before/while hearing scripture, invoke Vyāsa as Hari’s form to sanctify learning.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic space (bed; discourse hall implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29.61-65 (daily-life smaraṇa schedule)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Vishnu
• Sankarshana
• Padmanama
• Vyasa

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering specific forms of Vishnu in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches time-specific smaraṇa—remembering Hari as Saṅkarṣaṇa at bedtime, as Padmanāma when entering sleep, and as Vyāsa during sacred discourse—so the mind stays anchored in dharma and devotion throughout daily transitions.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey or protection from fear?

By training the mind to remember Hari at vulnerable thresholds (rest, sleep, narration), the practitioner cultivates purity and steadiness, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as protective spiritual capital for facing fear, karma, and the uncertainties of embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a simple routine: before lying down, mentally repeat “Saṅkarṣaṇa”; as you drift to sleep, repeat “Padmanāma”; and when listening to or teaching scripture, remember “Vyāsa-rūpa Hari,” aligning daily habits with devotional mindfulness.