Shloka 8

Haristuti-saṅgraha: Devatā–Ṛṣi Praṇāma, Nāma-māhātmya, and Vairāgya from Deha-āsakti

Devanagari script

शच्युवाच / संचिन्तयामि अनिशं तव पादपद्मं वज्राङ्कुशध्वजसरोरुहलाञ्छनाढ्यम् / वागीश्वरैरपि सदा मनसापि धर्तुं नो शक्यमीश तव पादरजः स्मरामि

Transliteration

śacyuvāca / saṃcintayāmi aniśaṃ tava pādapadmaṃ vajrāṅkuśadhvajasaroruhalāñchanāḍhyam / vāgīśvarairapi sadā manasāpi dhartuṃ no śakyamīśa tava pādarajaḥ smarāmi

Translation

Śacī dit : Sans cesse je contemple Tes pieds de lotus, ornés des signes de bon augure—le vajra, l’aṅkuśa, l’étendard et le lotus. Même les seigneurs de la parole ne peuvent les porter constamment en leur esprit ; ô Seigneur, c’est pourquoi je me souviens de la poussière de Tes pieds.

Word by Word

• śacī: Śacī
• śacī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śacī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• saṃcintayāmi: I contemplate/meditate upon
• saṃcintayāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-cint (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• aniśam: unceasingly
• aniśam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aniśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pāda-padmam: the lotus of (your) foot
• pāda-padmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य पद्मम्)

• vajra-aṅkuśa-dhvaja-saroruha-lāñchana-āḍhyam: adorned with marks like vajra, goad, banner, lotus, etc.
• vajra-aṅkuśa-dhvaja-saroruha-lāñchana-āḍhyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅkuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + saroruha (प्रातिपदिक) + lāñchana (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि—‘वज्रादि-लाञ्छनैः आढ्यम्’ (endowed with marks such as thunderbolt, goad, banner, lotus)

• vāgīśvaraiḥ: by lords of speech (great speakers)
• vāgīśvaraiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāgīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थ (also/even)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधानार्थ (even)

• dhartum: to hold/retain (in mind)
• dhartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive/तुमन्त), ‘धर्तुम्’

• naḥ: for us/of us
• naḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘अस्माकम्’ अर्थे

• śakyam: possible
• śakyam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakya (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; शक्-धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (possible)

• īśa: O Lord
• īśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pāda-rajaḥ: the dust of (your) feet
• pāda-rajaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāda (प्रातिपदिक) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पादस्य रजः)

• smarāmi: I remember
• smarāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Śacī (Indrāṇī), consort of Indra

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Remembrance of the Lord’s feet (and even their dust) is a complete devotional refuge beyond the reach of mere eloquence.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as a direct means when vāg and manas are limited; the Lord’s auspiciousness (maṅgala-lakṣaṇa) as revelation of transcendence within form (saguṇa).

Application: Adopt pāda-smaraṇa: daily japa/meditation on Viṣṇu’s feet; cultivate humility—seek ‘pāda-rajas’ (service, discipleship, and reverence) rather than intellectual mastery.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.7.6 (aprameya Lord; plea for divine abode); Garuda Purana 3.7.9 (bondage by guṇas; plea for protection)

Characters & Entities

• Śacī
• Īśa (the Lord, implied as Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering the Lord’s lotus-feet in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents constant remembrance of the Lord’s feet as a supreme devotional support, emphasizing humility: even great masters of speech cannot fully grasp His glory, so one takes refuge in His pāda-raja (the sanctifying dust of His feet).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not describing post-death travel directly, it frames bhakti—steady contemplation and remembrance of the Lord—as the inner refuge that carries the devotee beyond fear and limitation, a recurring Garuda Purana theme when discussing liberation and protection.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily practice of nāma-smaraṇa or brief meditation on the Lord’s lotus-feet, cultivating humility and steadiness—especially during anxiety, grief, or rites connected with death and remembrance.