Shloka 143

Rudra’s Removal of Brahmahatyā; Kapālamocana and Avimukta Māhātmya; Origins of Nara and Karṇa

link to Arjuna/Karna query

Devanagari script

शुभं सदा स्तौमि महानुभावं सहस्रमूर्द्धानमनेकपादम् । अनंतबाहुं शशिसूर्यनेत्रं क्षराक्षरं क्षीरसमुद्रनिद्रम्

Transliteration

śubhaṃ sadā staumi mahānubhāvaṃ sahasramūrddhānamanekapādam | anaṃtabāhuṃ śaśisūryanetraṃ kṣarākṣaraṃ kṣīrasamudranidram

Translation

我は常に、吉祥にして大いなる御心の主を讃える—千の頭と多くの足、無尽の御腕、月と日を眼とする御方。彼は滅するものと滅せぬものの両者にして、乳海に臥し給う。

Word by Word

• शुभम्: the auspicious one / auspiciousness
• शुभम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; स्तुत्य-वस्तु (object)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• स्तौमि: I praise
• स्तौमि: Kriya (Verbal action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• महानुभावम्: of great majesty
• महानुभावम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महान् + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'one whose greatness is (his) nature/majesty'

• सहस्रमूर्द्धानम्: thousand-headed
• सहस्रमूर्द्धानम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'having a thousand heads'

• अनेकपादम्: many-footed
• अनेकपादम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'having many feet'

• अनन्तबाहुम्: endless-armed
• अनन्तबाहुम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्त + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'having endless arms'

• शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्: moon-and-sun-eyed
• शशिसूर्यनेत्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि + सूर्य + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose eyes are moon and sun'

• क्षराक्षरम्: perishable and imperishable
• क्षराक्षरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षर + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व: 'perishable and imperishable'

• क्षीरसमुद्रनिद्रम्: resting in the ocean of milk
• क्षीरसमुद्रनिद्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीर + समुद्र + निद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'whose sleep/rest is (in) the ocean of milk'

Speaker

Unspecified (a devotee/narrator offering stuti to Viṣṇu)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सहस्रमूर्द्धानमनेकपादम् → सहस्रमूर्द्धानम् + अनेकपादम्.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kshira-samudra (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

Who is being praised in this verse?

The verse praises Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa, described with cosmic attributes (many heads, feet, and arms) and specifically as reclining on the Ocean of Milk (kṣīra-samudra).

What does “kṣara-akṣara” (perishable and imperishable) imply here?

It presents the Lord as encompassing both changing, manifest reality (kṣara) and the unchanging, transcendent principle (akṣara), indicating His all-inclusive nature.

Why mention the Ocean of Milk (kṣīra-samudra)?

It evokes the iconic Vaiṣṇava image of Nārāyaṇa in yogic repose (nidra) on the cosmic waters, linking creation theology (Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa) with devotion through visual and doctrinal symbolism.