Shloka 38

Devanagari script

राज्ये परीक्षितं स्थाप्य यादवानां विनाशनम् / श्रुत्वा तु मौसले राजा जप्त्वा नामसहस्रकम्

Transliteration

rājye parīkṣitaṃ sthāpya yādavānāṃ vināśanam / śrutvā tu mausale rājā japtvā nāmasahasrakam

Translation

രാജ്യത്തിൽ പരീക്ഷിതനെ സിംഹാസനത്തിൽ സ്ഥാപിച്ച്, മൗസല സംഭവത്തിൽ യാദവരുടെ വിനാശവാർത്ത കേട്ട്, രാജാവ് (ഭഗവാന്റെ) സഹസ്രനാമം ജപിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• राज्ये: in the kingdom
• राज्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्

• परीक्षितम्: Parīkṣit
• परीक्षितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परीक्षित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• स्थाप्य: having installed
• स्थाप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोगे क्त्वान्त-समकक्षः ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (absolutive: having installed/established)

• यादवानाम्: of the Yādavas
• यादवानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यादव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्

• विनाशनम्: destruction
• विनाशनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (Niyama/Virodha)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• मौसले: in the Mausala (episode/chapter)
• मौसले: Adhikarana (Topic locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्; ग्रन्थ/प्रकरणनाम (section-title)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive)

• नाम-सहस्रकम्: a thousand names (lit. a ‘names-thousand’)
• नाम-सहस्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नां सहस्रकम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anityatā of worldly lineages and power; nāma-japa (Viṣṇu-sahasranāma) as stabilizing sādhanā amid collapse of worldly supports.

Vedantic Theme: Vairāgya leading to bhakti and inner refuge in nāma; shifting identity from kingdom to Īśvara-smaraṇa.

Application: When confronted with loss and uncertainty, anchor the mind in steady spiritual practice (japa/recitation) and simplify attachments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: royal court / contemplative space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana emphasis on Viṣṇu-nāma as purifier and protector (general)

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit
• Yādavas
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Mausala
• Vishnu (implied by sahasranāma)

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting the sahasranāma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents sahasranāma-japa as a dharmic response to upheaval—turning grief and shock (like the Yādavas’ destruction) into remembrance of the Lord, which steadies the mind and purifies one’s inner state.

How does this verse connect Mahābhārata events to Garuda Purana teachings?

By mentioning Parīkṣit’s installation and the Mausala episode, the text anchors its spiritual instruction in Itihāsa history, showing that devotion and japa are recommended even for righteous kings facing world-changing losses.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In times of bereavement or major change, adopt a steady daily japa practice (such as Vishnu Sahasranāma) to cultivate clarity, restraint, and dharmic action rather than despair or anger.