Shloka 88

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

सहस्रशीर्षा वैद्यश्च मोक्षद्वारं तथैव च / प्रजाद्वारं सहस्राक्षः सहस्रकर एव च(५४०)

Transliteration

sahasraśīrṣā vaidyaśca mokṣadvāraṃ tathaiva ca / prajādvāraṃ sahasrākṣaḥ sahasrakara eva ca(540)

Translation

千の御頭を持つ御方はまた神なる医師にして、同じく解脱（モークシャ）への門である。千の御眼を持つ御方は子孫繁栄の門であり、まことに千の御手を持つ御方でもある。

Word by Word

• सहस्रशीर्षा: the thousand-headed one
• सहस्रशीर्षा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शीर्षन्/शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“सहस्रं शीर्षाणि यस्य सः”

• वैद्यः: physician; healer
• वैद्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मोक्षद्वारम्: the gate to liberation
• मोक्षद्वारम्: Karta/Predicate Noun (कर्ता/विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“मोक्षस्य द्वारम्”

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Modifier (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रजाद्वारम्: the gate of progeny/people
• प्रजाद्वारम्: Karta/Predicate Noun (कर्ता/विशेष्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“प्रजायाः द्वारम्”

• सहस्राक्षः: the thousand-eyed one
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“सहस्रम् अक्षीणि यस्य सः”

• सहस्रकरः: the thousand-handed one
• सहस्रकरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—“सहस्रं कराः यस्य सः”

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of Viṣṇu’s cosmic form and functions (healer, giver of progeny, gate to mokṣa) as salvific remembrance.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as sarva-śarīrī (indweller of all) and mokṣa-dvāra; grace (anugraha) accessed through nāma-smaraṇa.

Application: Use these epithets in japa/stotra for health, family welfare, and liberation-oriented remembrance; cultivate surrender to the Lord as the ‘door’ beyond saṃsāra.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (Vishnu-nama/mahatmya sequence continuing through 1.15.92)

FAQs

What is the importance of calling Vishnu the 'Gate to Moksha' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies Vishnu as the direct means and refuge for liberation—portraying Him not only as supreme but as the accessible ‘gateway’ through whom moksha is attained.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By portraying Vishnu as mokṣa-dvāra, it implies that the soul’s ultimate release is secured through devotion, surrender, and alignment with the divine order embodied by Vishnu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat spiritual practice as both healing and liberation: cultivate devotion, ethical living, and prayer to the Lord as healer, seeking well-being (vaidya) and the highest goal (moksha).