Shloka 143

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

दुन्दुभिर्हासरूपश्च पुष्पहासस्तथैव च (९००) / अट्टहासप्रियश्चैव सर्वाध्यक्षः क्षरो ऽक्षरः

Transliteration

dundubhirhāsarūpaśca puṣpahāsastathaiva ca (900) / aṭṭahāsapriyaścaiva sarvādhyakṣaḥ kṣaro 'kṣaraḥ

Translation

ദുന്ദുഭിനാദംപോലെ ഹർഷരൂപനും, പുഷ്പഹാസവുമാകുന്നവൻ; അട്ടഹാസത്തിൽ പ്രിയൻ—സർവാധ്യക്ഷൻ, ക്ഷരവും അക്ഷരവും ഇരുവരുടെയും അധിപൻ।

Word by Word

• दुन्दुभिः: with a drum; as a drum
• दुन्दुभिः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• हासरूपः: one whose form is laughter
• हासरूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हास (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (हासस्य रूपम्) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Nominative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• पुष्पहासः: flower-like laughter; ‘Puṣpahāsa’
• पुष्पहासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + हास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पुष्पैः/पुष्पवत् हासः) उपपद/तत्पुरुष-समास; Nominative singular

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक; adverb ‘thus/so’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक; particle of emphasis ‘indeed/just’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• अट्टहासप्रियः: fond of loud laughter
• अट्टहासप्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अट्टहास (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (अट्टहासस्य प्रियः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Nominative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक; particle ‘indeed’

• सर्वाध्यक्षः: overseer of all
• सर्वाध्यक्षः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (सर्वेषाम् अध्यक्षः) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Nominative singular

• क्षरः: perishable; flowing
• क्षरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective used substantively; Nominative singular

• अक्षरः: imperishable
• अक्षरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective used substantively; Nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra in a names-and-attributes context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Īśvara as sarvādhyakṣa governing both the perishable (kṣara) and imperishable (akṣara).

Vedantic Theme: Kṣara–Akṣara-bheda and the Lord as transcendent regulator (antaryāmin/īśvara) beyond change.

Application: Contemplate impermanence vs. the imperishable Self; cultivate steadiness by remembering the Lord as witness and governor in daily actions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (Vishnu-sahasranama-style nāma sequence; protective/meditative recitation context)

FAQs

What is the importance of calling Vishnu ‘Sarvādhyakṣa’ in the Garuda Purana?

It affirms Vishnu as the supreme regulator of all realms—visible and subtle—so dharma, karma, and liberation ultimately operate under His cosmic governance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By stating that the Lord presides over both kṣara (changing existence) and akṣara (the imperishable), it implies the soul’s journey from transient conditions toward the imperishable reality under divine oversight.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion and ethical living with the awareness that worldly change is kṣara, while spiritual aim is akṣara—seeking the imperishable through disciplined conduct and remembrance of the Divine.