Shloka 117

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

विक्रमो दण्ड(र) हस्तश्च ह्येकदण्डी त्रिदण्डधृक् / सामभेदस्तथोपायः सामरूपी च सामगः

Transliteration

vikramo daṇḍa(ra) hastaśca hyekadaṇḍī tridaṇḍadhṛk / sāmabhedastathopāyaḥ sāmarūpī ca sāmagaḥ

Translation

അവൻ വിക്രമസ്വരൂപൻ; അവന്റെ കൈയിൽ ദണ്ഡമുണ്ട്. അവൻ ഏകദണ്ഡിയും ത്രിദണ്ഡധാരിയും. അവൻ സാമം (സമാധാനം) കൂടെ ഉപായരൂപത്തിൽ ഭേദവും; അവൻ സാമരൂപനും സാമഗാനകനുമാണ്.

Word by Word

• विक्रमः: valour; stride (as a name)
• विक्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दण्डहस्तः: having a staff in hand
• दण्डहस्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दण्ड + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दण्डः हस्ते यस्य/दण्डहस्तः)

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

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: emphasis/causal nuance)

• एकदण्डी: one bearing a single staff
• एकदण्डी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + दण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (एकः दण्डः अस्य/धारयति)

• त्रिदण्डधृक्: bearer of the triple staff
• त्रिदण्डधृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + दण्ड + धृक् (कृदन्त; √धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; धृक् = धारणकर्ता (agent noun)

• सामभेदः: Sāma and its differentiation; conciliation-policy
• सामभेदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साम + भेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (साम्नः भेदः = division/variety of Sāman; or policy of conciliation as 'sāma')

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• उपायः: means; method
• उपायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सामरूपी: having the form of Sāman; conciliatory in nature
• सामरूपी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साम + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सामरूपः/सामरूपी = having the form of Sāman/conciliation)

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

• सामगः: singer of Sāman chants
• सामगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सामग = सामगानकर्ता (singer of Sāman)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord embodies both governance (daṇḍa—restraint/justice) and upāya (skillful means: conciliation and, when needed, division), while remaining the source of sacred harmony (Sāman).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as niyantā (regulator) and as the inner order behind social/ritual structures; dharma upheld through proportionate means.

Application: Apply ‘skillful means’ ethically: prefer sāma (conciliation) first; use firmer measures only when necessary and proportionate; keep speech aligned with truth and harmony (sāman-like).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (nāmas connecting power, discipline, and Vedic chant)

FAQs

What is the importance of sāma and bheda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents sāma (conciliation) and bheda (strategic separation) as legitimate dharmic upāyas (means), indicating that righteous authority uses multiple methods to preserve order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; rather, it praises divine/dharmic attributes—especially daṇḍa (discipline/authority) and upāya (skillful means)—which, in the broader Purāṇic ethic, support social and moral order that shapes karma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use proportionate discipline (daṇḍa) and skillful conflict-resolution (sāma first, other measures when needed) while staying grounded in dharma—aiming for harmony without abandoning principled boundaries.