Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

नमस्ते कंसकेशिघ्न नमस्ते कैटभार्दन / नमस्ते शतपत्राक्ष नमस्ते गरुडध्वज

Transliteration

namaste kaṃsakeśighna namaste kaiṭabhārdana / namaste śatapatrākṣa namaste garuḍadhvaja

Translation

ഹേ കംസനും കേശിയും വധിച്ചവനേ, നിനക്കു നമസ്കാരം; ഹേ കൈടഭസംഹാരകാ, നിനക്കു നമസ്കാരം. ഹേ പദ്മനയനാ, നിനക്കു നമസ്കാരം; ഹേ ഗരുഡധ്വജധാരീ, നിനക്കു നമസ്കാരം.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार), नमस्कारार्थक

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; ‘ते’ = ‘तुभ्यम्’ (to you)

• कंसकेशिघ्न: slayer of Kaṃsa and Keśin
• कंसकेशिघ्न: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस + केशिन् + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; ‘कंसं च केशिनं च हन्ति’ इति (slayer of Kaṃsa and Keśin)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार), नमस्कारार्थक

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; ‘ते’ = ‘तुभ्यम्’

• कैटभार्दन: destroyer of Kaiṭabha
• कैटभार्दन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैटभ + अर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘कैटभम् अर्दयति/हन्ति’ इति

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार), नमस्कारार्थक

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• शतपत्राक्ष: O lotus-eyed one
• शतपत्राक्ष: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + पत्र + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘शतपत्राणि इव अक्षिणी यस्य’ (lotus-eyed)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/उद्गार), नमस्कारार्थक

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• गरुडध्वज: whose banner is Garuḍa
• गरुडध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘गरुडः ध्वजः यस्य’

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), offering salutations to Lord Vishnu (Narayana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma-smaraṇa through epithets of divine līlā and victory over adharma as a means of refuge (śaraṇāgati).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the supreme protector; remembrance of the Lord’s vibhūtis steadies the mind (citta-śuddhi) toward śānti.

Application: Use these epithets as a daily protective prayer (stuti/japa), especially in fear, grief, or before sleep; cultivate trust that dharma is upheld.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.234 (Vishnu-stuti sequence continuing in 1.234.16–19)

Characters & Entities

• Kamsa
• Kesi
• Kaitabha
• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Vishnu as Kamsakeshighna and Kaitabhardana in the Garuda Purana?

These epithets recall Vishnu as the destroyer of powerful demonic forces, emphasizing His role as protector of dharma and remover of fear for devotees.

How does this verse connect to the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue in the Garuda Purana?

It functions as a reverential invocation by Garuda before receiving instruction from Vishnu, establishing devotion and surrender as the proper attitude for sacred teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a short daily salutation to cultivate humility, dharmic resolve, and remembrance of Vishnu’s protective presence during difficulty.