Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

नमो वामनरूपाय बलिराज्यापहारिणे / नमो यज्ञवराहाय गोविन्दाय नमोनमः

Transliteration

namo vāmanarūpāya balirājyāpahāriṇe / namo yajñavarāhāya govindāya namonamaḥ

Translation

വാമനരൂപം ധരിച്ചു ബലിരാജ്യം അപഹരിച്ച പ്രഭുവേ നമസ്കാരം. യജ്ഞവരാഹനേ നമസ്കാരം; ഗോവിന്ദനേ വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും നമസ്കാരം.

Word by Word

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

• वामनरूपाय: to the Vāmana-form
• वामनरूपाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—वामनस्य रूपम् (form of Vāmana)

• बलिराज्यापहारिणे: to the taker of Bali’s kingdom
• बलिराज्यापहारिणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक) + राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अपहारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—बलेः राज्यस्य अपहारी (one who took away Bali’s kingdom)

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

• यज्ञवराहाय: to Yajña-Varāha
• यज्ञवराहाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः—यज्ञः (विष्णुः) एव वराहः / यज्ञसम्बन्धी वराहः (the sacrificial boar; Varāha as Lord of sacrifice)

• गोविन्दाय: to Govinda
• गोविन्दाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोविन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; 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)

Speaker

Narrator/reciter within the Garuda Purana (a devotional invocation to Lord Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Īśvara’s avatāras restore dharma: Vāmana humbles pride and reorders sovereignty; Varāha embodies yajña as cosmic maintenance; Govinda as the indwelling protector.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavān as both transcendent and historically manifest; līlā as pedagogy for ego-surrender and dharma-restoration.

Application: Contemplate avatāra narratives to cultivate humility (Bali episode) and responsibility toward the world (earth as to-be-protected).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: yajña-śālā and primordial oceanic realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: avatāra-stuti sequences and Govinda-nāma praise (general parallel usage)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vamana
• Bali
• Varaha
• Govinda

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Vāmana and Varāha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a Viṣṇu-stuti, invoking avatāras that uphold dharma—Vāmana teaching rightful sovereignty and surrender, and Varāha restoring cosmic order—thereby framing the text’s teachings under divine protection and authority.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes like karma and dharma?

By remembering Govinda as the preserver who corrects imbalance (through avatāras), the verse reinforces that moral order governs outcomes—kingship, power, and worldly gains are ultimately subject to dharma and divine law.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a daily remembrance that power and possessions are temporary; practice humility, ethical conduct, and offering one’s actions (karma) to dharma—especially before rituals, study, or important decisions.