Shloka 2

Mṛtyvaṣṭaka of Mārkaṇḍeya: Refuge in Viṣṇu and the Withdrawal of Death

Devanagari script

शङ्खचक्रधरं देवं व्यक्तरूपिणमव्ययम् / अधो ऽक्षजं प्रपन्नोस्मि किन्नो मृत्युः करिष्यति

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakradharaṃ devaṃ vyaktarūpiṇamavyayam / adho 'kṣajaṃ prapannosmi kinno mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati

Translation

Aku berlindung pada Tuhan pemegang sangkha dan cakra—berwujud nyata namun tak binasa—Adhokṣaja, yang melampaui jangkauan indra. Maka apa yang dapat Maut lakukan?

Word by Word

• शङ्खचक्रधरम्: bearing conch and discus
• शङ्खचक्रधरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + चक्र + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शङ्खस्य चक्रस्य च धरः)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• व्यक्तरूपिणम्: of manifest form
• व्यक्तरूपिणम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (व्यक्तं रूपं यस्य)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); नित्य/अपरिणामि अर्थे

• अधः: below; (also) down
• अधः: Kriya-visheshana (Verb-modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-विशेषण (adverb)

• अक्षजम्: Akṣaja (the Unborn/Viṣṇu)
• अक्षजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रपन्नः: surrendered
• प्रपन्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु) → प्रपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); प्रश्नार्थक

• नः: of us / to us
• नः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); एन्क्लिटिक

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• करिष्यति: will do
• करिष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the devotional-protective context of the Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is both manifest (vyakta-rūpin) and imperishable (avyaya); taking refuge in Adhokṣaja makes death ineffectual.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna–nirguna coordination: the same Brahman is approachable in form yet transcends the senses; reliance on the imperishable reality dissolves mṛtyu-bhaya.

Application: Meditate on Viṣṇu’s conch and discus as symbols of dharma and protection; practice nāma-smaraṇa with the understanding that the refuge is beyond changing phenomena.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu as protector and the efficacy of nāma/stotra against fear (thematic internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Mrityu (Death)

FAQs

What is the importance of surrender (prapatti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents prapatti—taking refuge in imperishable Vishnu—as a direct remedy for fear of death, implying spiritual protection through unwavering reliance on the Divine.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By emphasizing refuge in Adhokṣaja (beyond the senses), it points to God-remembrance as the soul’s anchor, suggesting that devotion transcends the terrors associated with Death’s domain.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate daily remembrance of Vishnu (especially as śaṅkha-cakra-dhara) and practice surrender in conduct; it strengthens courage, ethical living, and steadiness when facing mortality.