Shloka 18

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

शरणं जगतश्चैव (११०)श्रेयः क्षेमस्तथैव च / शुभकृच्छोभनः सौम्यः सत्यः सत्यपराक्रमः

Transliteration

śaraṇaṃ jagataścaiva (110)śreyaḥ kṣemastathaiva ca / śubhakṛcchobhanaḥ saumyaḥ satyaḥ satyaparākramaḥ

Translation

അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് നിശ്ചയമായി ലോകത്തിന്റെ ശരണം—പരമ ശ്രേയസ്സും ഉറച്ച ക്ഷേമവും. ശുഭം ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ, ശോഭനൻ, സൗമ്യൻ; സത്യൻ, സത്യപരാക്രമൻ.

Word by Word

• शरणम्: refuge, shelter
• शरणम्: Visheshya (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• श्रेयः: the highest good, welfare
• श्रेयः: Visheshya (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• क्षेमः: security, well-being
• क्षेमः: Visheshya (Predicate nominative/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise, so
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुभकृत्: doer of good
• शुभकृत्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातु से कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्तरि-तत्पुरुष (one who does good)

• शोभनः: auspicious, splendid
• शोभनः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• सौम्यः: gentle, gracious
• सौम्यः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• सत्यः: truthful, true
• सत्यः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• सत्यपराक्रमः: of true valor
• सत्यपराक्रमः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (whose valor is true / true valor)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati to the सत्य-स्वरूप Lord as the source of śreyas (ultimate good) and kṣema (well-being).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as satya and āśraya; the world’s welfare rests in Brahman/Viṣṇu as ultimate refuge.

Application: Cultivate daily remembrance and surrender (nāma-japa, prayer) when seeking protection, clarity, and auspiciousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (Viṣṇu-nāma/stotra sequence continuing: satya, dharma, karma, śrīpati, etc.)

FAQs

What is the importance of taking refuge (śaraṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Divine as the world’s refuge—source of both śreyas (ultimate spiritual good) and kṣema (secure well-being), making surrender a core means of protection and upliftment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing śreyas, kṣema, and satya, it points to a soul’s safe passage and higher good through alignment with truth and devotion to the Divine protector.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate truthfulness and seek auspicious conduct (śubha-karman); use this verse as a daily remembrance of refuge—especially during fear, grief, or major life transitions.