Shloka 54

Paramparā (Transmission), Rudra’s Viṣṇu-Dhyāna, and the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s Origin-Impulse

Devanagari script

महाबलो वाहनस्त्वं भविष्यसि विषार्दनः / पुराणं मत्प्रसादाच्च मम माहात्म्यवाचकम्

Transliteration

mahābalo vāhanastvaṃ bhaviṣyasi viṣārdanaḥ / purāṇaṃ matprasādācca mama māhātmyavācakam

Translation

ഹേ വിഷനാശകാ, നീ മഹാബലവാനായി എന്റെ വാഹനം ആകും; എന്റെ പ്രസാദത്താൽ എന്റെ മഹാത്മ്യം പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്ന ഒരു പുരാണവും ഉണ്ടാകും.

Word by Word

• महाबलः: very strong
• महाबलः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā+बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective/predicate

• वाहनः: vehicle/mount
• वाहनः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicate nominative

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भविष्यसि: you will become
• भविष्यसि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विषार्दनः: destroyer of poison
• विषार्दनः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष+अर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; epithet

• पुराणम्: Purāṇa (text)
• पुराणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• मत्-प्रसादात्: from my grace
• मत्-प्रसादात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी-एकवचन-आदेश) + प्रसाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular; "by/from my grace"

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

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• माहात्म्यवाचकम्: proclaiming (my) greatness
• माहात्म्यवाचकम्: Karma (Qualifier/कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माहात्म्य+वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; adjective qualifying पुराणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mat-prasāda: divine grace empowers both protective action and sacred narration; praising the Lord (māhātmya) is itself sanctifying.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as source of śakti and śāstra; bhakti expressed through kīrtana/guṇa-gāna.

Application: Anchor achievements in humility and gratitude; engage in nāma-guṇa-kīrtana and study of sacred texts as devotional practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.2.52 (authorization of compilation); Garuda Purana 1.2.55 (Gāruḍa Purāṇa fame)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Garuda becoming Vishnu’s vehicle in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Garuda’s divine role as Vishnu’s vāhana, indicating intimate service to the Supreme and establishing Garuda’s authority as a sacred narrator and protector.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it grounds the Purāṇa’s teachings in Vishnu’s grace and glory, implying that liberation-oriented knowledge and right conduct are ultimately supported by devotion to Vishnu.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion and service (seva) with humility—spiritual strength and right understanding are portrayed as fruits of divine grace rather than mere pride or power.