Shloka 10

Acyuta/Vāsudeva Stotra: Avatāra-Salutations, Ritual Totality, Forgiveness Prayer, and Phalaśruti

Devanagari script

नमस्त्रै लोक्यनाथाय नमश्चक्रधारय च / नमः शिवाय सूक्ष्माय पुराणाय नमोनमः

Transliteration

namastrai lokyanāthāya namaścakradhāraya ca / namaḥ śivāya sūkṣmāya purāṇāya namonamaḥ

Translation

ത്രൈലോക്യനാഥനേ നമസ്കാരം, ചക്രധാരിയേയും നമസ്കാരം. സൂക്ഷ്മ ശിവസ്വരൂപനേ നമസ്കാരം; ഈ പുണ്യപുരാണത്തിന്നു വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും നമസ്കാരം.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation; obeisance
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (salutatory particle/interjection)

• त्रैलोक्यनाथाय: to the Lord of the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यनाथाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—त्रैलोक्यस्य नाथः (lord of the three worlds)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• चक्रधाराय: to the discus-bearer
• चक्रधाराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—चक्रं धारयति इति (one who bears the discus)

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

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• शिवाय: to Śiva (auspicious one)
• शिवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन

• सूक्ष्माय: to the subtle one
• सूक्ष्माय: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शिवाय)

• पुराणाय: to the Purāṇa (ancient one/text)
• पुराणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• नमः: salutation again
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta/Compiler-narration (invocatory verse honoring Vishnu, Shiva, and the Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati through nāma-namaskāra to the tri-loka-nātha and cakra-dhārin; honoring the subtle (sūkṣma) divine principle and the Purāṇa as a vehicle of dharma and mokṣa.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as both immanent and subtle; śāstra as pramāṇa guiding the seeker from ritual to realization.

Application: Begin recitation/reading with namaskāra; cultivate remembrance of the Lord’s attributes (cakra, lordship) and treat the Purāṇa as daily śravaṇa for inner refinement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: maṅgalācaraṇa and stuti passages preceding doctrinal sections (general parallel usage)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this invocation in the Garuda Purana?

It consecrates the text and its recitation by saluting the supreme protector (Viṣṇu), the auspicious transformative principle (Śiva), and the Purāṇa itself as sacred authority.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death described in the Garuda Purana?

By invoking the “subtle” (sūkṣma) aspect, it frames the teaching as dealing with realities beyond the gross body—central to the Purāṇa’s descriptions of the subtle body, post-death passage, and karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin study, śrāddha-related reading, or ethical self-discipline with mindful salutations—cultivating humility, clarity of purpose, and reverence for dharma-centered instruction.