Shloka 11

Devanagari script

शङ्खकुन्देन्दुधवलं मृणालरजतप्रभम् / गोक्षीरसदृशं तद्वत्सूर्यकोटिसमग्रभम् / शङ्खं चक्रं गदां पद्मं धारयन्तं चतुर्भुजम्

Transliteration

śaṅkhakundendudhavalaṃ mṛṇālarajataprabham / gokṣīrasadṛśaṃ tadvatsūryakoṭisamagrabham / śaṅkhaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃ padmaṃ dhārayantaṃ caturbhujam

Translation

ഞാൻ പ്രഭുവിനെ ദർശിച്ചു—ശംഖം, കുന്ദപുഷ്പം, ചന്ദ്രൻപോലെ ധവളം; മൃണാലവും വെള്ളിയുംപോലെ ദീപ്തം; ഗോക്ഷീരസദൃശമായ കാന്തിയോടെ, കോടിക്കണക്കിന് സൂര്യന്മാരുടെ തുല്യമായ പ്രഭയോടെ—ചതുര്ഭുജനായി ശംഖം-ചക്രം-ഗദ-പദ്മം ധരിച്ചവൻ॥

Word by Word

• शङ्खकुन्देन्दुधवलम्: white like conch, jasmine, and moon
• शङ्खकुन्देन्दुधवलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śaṅkha + kunda + indu + dhavala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (शङ्खवत् कुन्दवत् इन्दुवत् धवलः)

• मृणालरजतप्रभम्: having the luster of lotus-stalk and silver
• मृणालरजतप्रभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛṇāla + rajata + prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (मृणालवत् रजतवत् प्रभा यस्य)

• गोक्षीरसदृशम्: resembling cow’s milk
• गोक्षीरसदृशम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: go + kṣīra + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (गोक्षीरस्य सदृशः)

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriya-viseshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad-vat (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमान/तुल्यत्व) — 'likewise/so too'

• सूर्यकोटिसमग्रभम्: having radiance equal to ten million suns
• सूर्यकोटिसमग्रभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya + koṭi + samagra + bha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सूर्यकोट्या समग्रं भाः/प्रभा यस्य)

• शङ्खम्: conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• पद्मम्: lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• धारयन्तम्: holding (bearing)
• धारयन्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त/active present participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — 'bearing/holding'

• चतुर्भुजम्: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (चत्वारः भुजाः यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, describing the Lord’s form for contemplation)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhyāna through vivid auspicious attributes purifies the mind and anchors devotion; the Lord’s brilliance signifies transcendence and sustaining power.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna Brahman as upāsya: form-based contemplation as a gateway to inner stillness and realization.

Application: In daily meditation, visualize the Lord’s form with clear attributes (conch, discus, mace, lotus) and cultivate steadiness by repeating the imagery with synchronized breath.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: inner vision (dhyana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.12 (ornaments/attire); Garuda Purana 1.34.10 (Hayagriva contemplation context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Lord Vishnu’s form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse provides a dhyāna (contemplative) visualization of Viṣṇu—his purity, radiance, and divine attributes—supporting devotion and focused remembrance as a dharmic practice.

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

Though not describing Yama’s path directly, the verse emphasizes Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (remembrance of the Lord), a recurring Garuda Purana motif for spiritual protection and steadiness in transitional states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a short meditation: visualize the four-armed Lord holding śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, and padma, cultivating purity of mind, courage, discipline, and compassion in daily conduct.