Shloka 6

Manvantara Catalog: Fourteen Manus, Their Sons, Saptarishis, Indras, Deva-Hosts, and the 18 Vidyās

Devanagari script

बृहद्गुणो नभश्चैव महाबलपराक्रमः / ऊर्ज स्तम्बस्तथा प्राण ऋषभो निश्चल (र) स्तथा

Transliteration

bṛhadguṇo nabhaścaiva mahābalaparākramaḥ / ūrja stambastathā prāṇa ṛṣabho niścala (ra) stathā

Translation

「（彼は）徳において広大で、また天のごとく；大いなる力と勇猛を具え；生命力の柱と称され、プラーナ（Prāṇa）そのものでもある；リシャバ（Ṛṣabha、最勝者）であり、また不動にして堅固なる者である。」

Word by Word

• बृहद्गुणः: Bṛhadguṇa (name; ‘great in qualities’)
• बृहद्गुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामवाचक

• नभः: Nabhas (name; sky)
• नभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामवाचक

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

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• महाबलपराक्रमः: Mahābala-parākrama (name; great in strength and valor)
• महाबलपराक्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाबल + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामवाचक; ‘महाबलस्य पराक्रमः’/‘great strength and valor’ इत्यर्थे

• ऊर्ज्: Ūrj (vigor; name)
• ऊर्ज्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामवाचक (ऊर्ज्/ऊर्जा)

• स्तम्बः: Stamba (pillar; name)
• स्तम्बः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामवाचक

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्राणः: Prāṇa (life-breath; name)
• प्राणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामवाचक

• ऋषभः: Ṛṣabha (bull; name)
• ऋषभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामवाचक

• निश्चलः: Niścala (immovable; name)
• निश्चलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नामवाचक; (पाठे ‘निश्चल(र)’ इति पाठान्तर-सूचना)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prāṇa and steadfastness as pillars of embodied life; greatness is defined by guṇa (virtue), bala (strength), and niścala (unshaken steadiness).

Vedantic Theme: Prāṇa as a key upādhi in embodied existence; cultivation of sattva and steadiness supports clarity and self-knowledge.

Application: Build ‘niścala’ steadiness through disciplined breath, ethical living, and resilience; treat vitality (prāṇa) as sacred—protect health and attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: epithetic/pan-cosmic (non-localized)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: laudatory epithet strings in genealogical/character descriptions (varies by recension)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s epithets in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents exalted attributes of Vishnu—cosmic vastness, strength, prāṇa, and steadiness—used for contemplation and recitation to anchor the mind in dharma and divine refuge.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying Vishnu with prāṇa (life-force) and the sustaining ‘pillar’ of energy, it frames the soul’s journey as ultimately supported by the divine ground of life and stability rather than mere physical conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these titles as a short daily remembrance—especially in prayer/recitation—to cultivate steadiness (niścala) and ethical strength, treating life-breath (prāṇa) as sacred and disciplined.