Shloka 5

Śrīnivāsa at Svāmipuṣkariṇī: Darśana, Stotra, the Secret Veṅkaṭeśa Mantra, and the Meaning of “Vyaṅkaṭeśa”

Devanagari script

सुवर्णचित्रं वसनं वसानं सोष्णीषकं कञ्चुकं संदधानम्

Transliteration

suvarṇacitraṃ vasanaṃ vasānaṃ soṣṇīṣakaṃ kañcukaṃ saṃdadhānam

Translation

Ia mengenakan busana berhias ukiran emas, serta memakai uṣṇīṣa (serban) dan kañcuka (baju ketat/rompi), tampak elok dengan perhiasan yang semestinya.

Word by Word

• सुवर्णचित्रम्: gold-ornamented / golden-patterned
• सुवर्णचित्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण + चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; adjective)

• वसनम्: garment, clothing
• वसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• वसानम्: wearing (clad in)
• वसानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• स-उष्णीषकम्: with a turban/head-dress
• स-उष्णीषकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उष्णीषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-भावे उपपदसमासार्थः ‘सह’ (with); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• कञ्चुकम्: tunic, jacket
• कञ्चुकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कञ्चुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

• संदधानम्: putting on, wearing/fastening
• संदधानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + धा (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of the Lord’s auspicious form through detailed visualization of attire and ornaments as a support for devotion (rūpa-dhyāna).

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā: form-based meditation as a legitimate aid to steadiness of mind and devotion.

Application: Use concrete iconographic details (garment, crown/turban, kancuka) in japa/dhyāna to stabilize attention; approach beauty as sacred, not merely sensual.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana iconographic and devotional descriptions of Viṣṇu’s form (rūpa-varṇana) in related passages

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Preta

FAQs

What is the importance of describing clothing and ornaments in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses visible attire—gold-patterned clothing, turban, and kancuka—to indicate the manifested condition of the being in the post-death narrative, reflecting how karmic and subtle-body impressions can be portrayed as form and appearance.

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

By portraying the being as ‘duly adorned,’ the text signals that the post-death journey is experienced through a form (preta/subtle embodiment) that can be described in concrete terms, preparing the listener for subsequent details of Yama’s path and after-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat external status and appearance as temporary; prioritize dharma, charity, and right conduct, since the Purana frames post-death experience as shaped by one’s inner karmic record rather than mere worldly display.