Shloka 156

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

नदी नन्दी च नन्दीशो(९९०)भारतस्तरुनाशनः / चक्रपः श्रीपतिश्चैव नृपाणां चक्रवर्तिनाम्

Transliteration

nadī nandī ca nandīśo(990)bhāratastarunāśanaḥ / cakrapaḥ śrīpatiścaiva nṛpāṇāṃ cakravartinām

Translation

അവൻ ‘നദി’, ‘നന്ദി’, ‘നന്ദീശൻ’; ‘ഭാരതൻ’, ശത്രുനാശകൻ. അവൻ ‘ചക്രപൻ’യും ‘ശ്രീപതി’യും—രാജാക്കന്മാരിൽ ചക്രവർത്തികളുടേയും ചക്രവർത്തി.

Word by Word

• नदी: river
• नदी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नन्दी: Nandī; the joyous one
• नन्दी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• नन्दीशः: Lord of Nandī; Nandīśa
• नन्दीशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दी-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; नन्दी + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नन्द्याः ईशः/नन्देः ईशः)

• भारतः: Bhārata
• भारतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तरु-नाशनः: destroyer of trees
• तरु-नाशनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक; √नश् (धातु) + ल्युट्/अन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (तरूणां नाशनः)

• चक्रपः: lord of the discus
• चक्रपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र-प (प्रातिपदिक; चक्र + प ‘पालक/स्वामी’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चक्रस्य पः/पालकः)

• श्रीपतिः: husband of Śrī (Lakṣmī)
• श्रीपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री-पति (प्रातिपदिक; श्री + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (श्रियाḥ पतिः)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात

• नृपाणाम्: of kings
• नृपाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• चक्रवर्तिनाम्: of emperors; of cakravartins
• चक्रवर्तिनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र-वर्तिन् (प्रातिपदिक; चक्र + वर्तिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चक्रे वर्तते इति/चक्रस्य वर्तिन्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative tradition: Vishnu instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra; this verse functions as a string of divine epithets within that discourse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is auspicious power and righteous sovereignty—protector who destroys adharma and upholds order, the true ‘emperor’ above all rulers.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as dharma-saṃsthāpaka (establisher of order) and śaraṇāgati-worthy protector.

Application: Seek divine refuge in conflict; align leadership and governance with dharma; cultivate auspiciousness (maṅgala) through devotion and right conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: continent/land

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (royal and protective nāmas)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shri (Lakshmi)
• Nandi
• Nandisha

FAQs

What is the importance of listing Vishnu’s names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a devotional identification of the Supreme Lord through epithets; such name-lists are traditionally used for remembrance (smaraṇa), merit (puṇya), and spiritual protection.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by centering the mind on Viṣṇu as the supreme refuge (“Śrīpati,” “Cakrapa,” and ruler over rulers), it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader emphasis that remembrance of the divine aids one’s passage and well-being beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a short daily remembrance/recitation focusing on Viṣṇu’s protective and sovereign aspects, reinforcing ethical living and steadiness of mind through devotion.