Shloka 81

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

अरिष्टस्य निहन्ता च अक्रूरप्रिय एव च / अक्रूरः क्रूररूपश्च(४८०)अक्रूरप्रियवन्दितः

Transliteration

ariṣṭasya nihantā ca akrūrapriya eva ca / akrūraḥ krūrarūpaśca(480)akrūrapriyavanditaḥ

Translation

അവൻ അരിഷ്ടനെ നിഹന്താവും അക്രൂരന് പ്രിയനുമാണ്; അവൻ അക്രൂരൻ തന്നെയെങ്കിലും ക്രൂരരൂപധാരി, അക്രൂരന്റെ പ്രിയജനങ്ങൾ വന്ദിക്കുന്നവൻ।

Word by Word

• अरिष्टस्य: of Ariṣṭa
• अरिष्टस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of Ariṣṭa)

• निहन्ता: slayer
• निहन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि (उपसर्ग) + हन् (धातु) + तृ (कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (slayer)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अक्रूरप्रियः: dear to Akrūra
• अक्रूरप्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अक्रूरस्य प्रियः)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अक्रूरः: Akrūra
• अक्रूरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य-नाम (proper name/epithet)

• क्रूररूपः: of fierce form
• क्रूररूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (क्रूरं रूपं यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अक्रूरप्रियवन्दितः: praised by those dear to Akrūra
• अक्रूरप्रियवन्दितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + वन्दित (वन्द् धातु + क्त कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अक्रूरप्रियैः वन्दितः / अक्रूरप्रियः—तैः वन्दितः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra, in the standard Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is ‘akrūra’ (non-cruel) to the surrendered, yet ‘krūra-rūpa’ (terrible form) to adharma—grace and severity are two faces of protection.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara’s anugraha-nigraha shakti (grace and restraint); divine attributes reconcile in the one Reality.

Application: Deepen devotion and integrity: cultivate humility like Akrura; accept that divine ‘severity’ may appear as corrective force against harmful tendencies.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: region/route (mythic-historical)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (devotee-linked epithets; Akrura-related naming)

Characters & Entities

• Ariṣṭa
• Akrūra

FAQs

What is the importance of divine epithets like 'Ariṣṭa-slayer' in the Garuda Purana?

They function as contemplative names that recall specific acts of divine protection, strengthening devotion (bhakti) and trust in dharma-preserving power.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly—by emphasizing remembrance and praise of the Divine, it supports the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching that devotion and right conduct aid the soul’s spiritual orientation and liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the name as a daily remembrance practice—recite, reflect on its meaning (protection from harm and inner obstacles), and align actions with dharma.