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Shloka 109

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

त्वचा न गम्यः कूर्ंमश्च जिह्वाग्राह्यस्तथैव च / ग्राणोन्द्रियागम्य एव वाचाग्राह्यस्तथैव च (६५०)

Transliteration

tvacā na gamyaḥ kūrṃmaśca jihvāgrāhyastathaiva ca / grāṇondriyāgamya eva vācāgrāhyastathaiva ca (650)

Translation

ഈ കൂർമം (ആമ) ത്വക്കിന്റെ സ്പർശത്താൽ ഗ്രഹിക്കപ്പെടുന്നില്ല; ജിഹ്വയാൽ മാത്രമേ ഗ്രഹിക്കപ്പെടൂ. ഘ്രാണേന്ദ്രിയത്തിനും അത് ഗമ്യം; വാക്കിനാലും അതുപോലെ ഗ്രഹിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word
त्वचाby/through the skin (touch)
त्वचा:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootत्वच् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन
नnot
न:
Nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेध-निपात (negation particle)
गम्यःreachable; attainable
गम्यः:
Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootगम्य (कृदन्त; √गम् (धातु) + यत्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
कूर्मःthe tortoise (Kūrma)
कूर्मः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)
जिह्वाby/through the tongue (taste)
जिह्वा:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootजिह्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (instrumental sense in compound-resolution)
ग्राह्यःgraspable; perceivable
ग्राह्यः:
Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootग्राह्य (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् (धातु) + यत्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb)
एवindeed
एव:
Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)
घ्राणby/through the nose (smell)
घ्राण:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootघ्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (instrumental sense in compound-resolution)
इन्द्रियby/through the sense-organ
इन्द्रिय:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootइन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (instrumental sense in compound-resolution)
अगम्यःinaccessible
अगम्यः:
Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअगम्य (कृदन्त; √गम् (धातु) + यत्, नञ्-पूर्वक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
एवindeed
एव:
Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)
वाचाby/through speech
वाचा:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootवाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन
ग्राह्यःgraspable; expressible
ग्राह्यः:
Visheshana (Adjectival predicate/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootग्राह्य (कृदन्त; √ग्रह् (धातु) + यत्)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb)
एवindeed
एव:
Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)
चand
च:
Samuccaya (Coordination/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction/particle)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue addressing Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Epistemology of perception: different indriyas have different domains; some realities are not accessible to certain senses, implying the need for appropriate means of knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Pramāṇa-viveka (discerning valid means of knowledge); limitation of sensory knowledge; indirect knowledge via śabda (speech/śruti) hinted by 'vācāgrāhya'.

Application: Do not absolutize one mode of knowing (e.g., 'I didn’t see it, so it isn’t'); use appropriate tools—listening to śāstra/teacher, inference, and disciplined reflection for subtle truths.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.108-112 (series on atīndriya and knowability through mind/buddhi/jñāna)

FAQs

This verse highlights that different objects are known through specific sense-channels, supporting the Purana’s broader teaching that mastery of the senses is essential for right conduct and spiritual progress.

By emphasizing how perception depends on the senses, it points to the subtle mechanisms through which embodied experience operates—an idea used in Garuda Purana discussions of the jīva’s experience beyond gross physicality.

Practice restraint and clarity in sensory engagement—especially taste, smell, and speech—since disciplined indriyas support ethical living and steadier spiritual practice.

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