Shloka 29

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

वरप्रदाय शान्ताय वरेण्याय नमोनमः / शरण्याय सुरूपाय धर्मकामार्थदायिने

Transliteration

varapradāya śāntāya vareṇyāya namonamaḥ / śaraṇyāya surūpāya dharmakāmārthadāyine

Translation

വരപ്രദൻ, ശാന്തൻ, വരണീയനായ പ്രഭുവിന് വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും നമസ്കാരം. ശരണദായകൻ, സുന്ദരരൂപൻ, ധർമ്മ-കാമ-അർത്ഥം നൽകുന്നവന് നമഃ.

Word by Word

• वरप्रदाय: to the giver of boons
• वरप्रदाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (√दा धातु) → वरप्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वरस्य प्रदः)

• शान्ताय: to the peaceful one
• शान्ताय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (√शम् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• वरेण्याय: to the most worthy (to be chosen)
• वरेण्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य (√वृ धातु, अनीयर्/ण्यत्-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (वरणीयः)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात); नमः-प्रयोगः (salutation particle)

• नमः: again salutation
• नमः: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात); पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोगः (namonamaḥ)

• शरण्याय: to the refuge-giver
• शरण्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विशेषण (शरणं ददाति/शरणं योग्यः)

• सुरूपाय: to the beautiful-formed one
• सुरूपाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) → सुरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं रूपं यस्य)

• धर्मकामार्थदायिने: to the giver of dharma, desire, and wealth
• धर्मकामार्थदायिने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + दायिन् (√दा धातु, णिनि-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (धर्म-काम-अर्थानां दायी) ; णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त (दायिन्)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), offering praise to Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu as śaraṇya (refuge) and varapradā (boon-giver) who harmonizes dharma, artha, kāma under divine grace.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) as the ordering principle behind puruṣārthas; devotion as the stabilizer of worldly and spiritual aims.

Application: Begin worship with repeated namaskāra, aligning desires with dharma and seeking refuge rather than mere acquisition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.30-32 (meditation, mūlamantra, Vishnuloka); Garuda Purana 1.32.1 (pañcatattvārchana request)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Vishnu as 'dharmakāmārthadāyin' in the Garuda Purana?

It frames Vishnu as the source who rightly bestows the three aims of life—dharma, artha, and kāma—so that desires and prosperity remain aligned with righteousness.

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

By emphasizing refuge in the serene and worthy Lord, it points to devotion and dharma as the stabilizing foundation that supports the soul’s welfare across life, death, and beyond.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek prosperity and desires through dharma: make choices that are ethical, disciplined, and devotional, treating prayer as a way to align goals with righteous conduct.