Shloka 25

Śālagrāma-lakṣaṇa: Viṣṇu Stotra, Vyūha/Avatāra Identification, and Temple-Fruition

Devanagari script

रामचक्रो दक्षरेखः श्यामोवो ऽव्या (त्त्रिविक्रमः) / शालग्रामे द्वारकायां स्थिताय गदिन नमः

Transliteration

rāmacakro dakṣarekhaḥ śyāmovo 'vyā (ttrivikramaḥ) / śālagrāme dvārakāyāṃ sthitāya gadina namaḥ

Translation

રામચક્ર, દક્ષિણાવર્ત રેખાથી ચિહ્નિત, શ્યામવર્ણ ત્રિવિક્રમ અમારી રક્ષા કરે. જે શાલગ્રામમાં અને દ્વારકામાં સ્થિત છે, તે ગદાધારી પ્રભુને નમસ્કાર.

Word by Word

• रामचक्रः: having the Rāma-disc (mark)
• रामचक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रामचक्र (प्रातिपदिक; राम + चक्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दक्षरेखः: having a right-side line/mark
• दक्षरेखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षरेख (प्रातिपदिक; दक्ष + रेख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• श्यामः: dark, dusky
• श्यामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• वः: you (plural): of you / for you
• वः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6th/Genitive or 4th/Dative), बहुवचन; एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम

• अव्यात्: may (he) protect
• अव्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive usage), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—‘रक्षतु/पातु’

• त्रिविक्रमः: Trivikrama
• त्रिविक्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिविक्रम (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + विक्रम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• शालग्रामे: in Śālagrāma
• शालग्रामे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• द्वारकायाम्: in Dvārakā
• द्वारकायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्थिताय: to/for the one situated (there)
• स्थिताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘स्थित’ = situated

• गदिन: to the mace-bearer
• गदिन: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदिन् (प्रातिपदिक; गदा + इन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे/देवताप्रत्यय (epithet: ‘one who has a mace’)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable interjection); नमः + चतुर्थी (dative) construction

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati expressed as namas to the mace-bearing Lord, present both in tīrtha (Dvārakā) and in portable sacred form (Śālagrāma).

Vedantic Theme: Immanence of the Supreme in worshipable forms; saguna-upāsanā as a direct means to inner purification and liberation-orientation.

Application: Maintain a daily practice: offer water/tulasi to Śālagrāma (if tradition permits), recite Trivikrama/Vishnu names, and cultivate ‘rightward’ (dakṣiṇa) auspicious orientation—ethical rightness and clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred city; sacred aniconic icon (stone)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45 (culminating salutation tying marks to Śālagrāma and Dvārakā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Trivikrama
• Shalagrama
• Dvaraka

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Śālagrāma as a direct abode/form of Viṣṇu, making its remembrance and worship a protective and highly auspicious Vaishnava practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing refuge in Viṣṇu (cakra- and gadā-bearing protector), it points to devotion and divine protection as a sustaining support amid the Purana’s broader teachings on life, death, and spiritual destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short Viṣṇu-stuti for daily remembrance—especially during pūjā or before travel/rituals—cultivating devotion, steadiness, and reliance on dharmic protection.