Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

सर्वज्ञं निर्गुणं शुद्धमानन्दमजरं परम् / बोधरूपं ध्रुवं शान्तं पूर्णमद्वैतमक्षयम्

Transliteration

sarvajñaṃ nirguṇaṃ śuddhamānandamajaraṃ param / bodharūpaṃ dhruvaṃ śāntaṃ pūrṇamadvaitamakṣayam

Translation

അവൻ സർവ്വജ്ഞൻ, ഗുണാതീതൻ, ശുദ്ധൻ, സ്വയം ആനന്ദസ്വരൂപൻ, അജരൻ, പരമൻ; ബോധസ്വരൂപൻ, ധ്രുവൻ, ശാന്തൻ, പൂർണ്ണൻ, അദ്വൈതൻ, അക്ഷയൻ.

Word by Word

• सर्वज्ञम्: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + ज्ञ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण

• निर्गुणम्: without qualities (attribute-less)
• निर्गुणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक; निर् + गुण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (शुद्धम् इत्यस्य विशेष्यभावे)

• अजरम्: unaging
• अजरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजर (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + जर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• बोधरूपम्: of the nature of consciousness
• बोधरूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बोधरूप (प्रातिपदिक; बोध + रूप)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ध्रुवम्: steady, fixed
• ध्रुवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शान्तम्: peaceful, tranquil
• शान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) विशेषण

• पूर्णम्: complete, full
• पूर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; √पॄ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• अद्वैतम्: non-dual
• अद्वैतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्वैत (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + द्वैत)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अक्षयम्: imperishable
• अक्षयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षय (प्रातिपदिक; अ- + क्षय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nirguṇa, advaita, akṣaya consciousness-bliss reality as the supreme Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman as sat-cit-ānanda; non-duality (advaita) and transcendence of guṇas.

Application: Meditate on the Lord as pure awareness beyond attributes; use the epithets as nididhyāsana (contemplative repetition) to steady the mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Brahma/Vishnu-stuti passages describing nirguṇa, advaita, akṣaya)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman (Supreme Self)
• Vishnu (as the Supreme)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing the Supreme as nirguṇa and advaita in the Garuda Purana?

This verse identifies the ultimate refuge as beyond material qualities (nirguṇa) and non-dual (advaita), directing the seeker from ritual-only aims toward liberating knowledge of the imperishable Self.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana’s teachings?

By defining the Supreme as bodharūpa (pure consciousness) and akṣaya (imperishable), it implies that liberation comes when the soul recognizes its true ground in this changeless reality, transcending fear, decay, and worldly bondage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Contemplate daily that the highest Self is steady and peaceful (dhruva, śānta); let this reduce anxiety and guide ethical living, devotion, and disciplined self-inquiry toward inner purity.