Shloka 54

Devanagari script

त्रिगुणायागुणायैव ब्रह्मविष्णुस्वरूपिणे / कर्त्रे हर्त्रे सुरेशाय सर्वगाय नमोनमः

Transliteration

triguṇāyāguṇāyaiva brahmaviṣṇusvarūpiṇe / kartre hartre sureśāya sarvagāya namonamaḥ

Translation

ത്രിഗുണമയനും ത്രിഗുണാതീതനും, ബ്രഹ്മാ-വിഷ്ണു സ്വരൂപനും; സൃഷ്ടികർത്താവും സംഹർത്താവും, ദേവേശനും സർവ്വവ്യാപിയും—നിനക്കു വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും നമസ്കാരം।

Word by Word

• त्रिगुणाय: to the three-qualitied (one)
• त्रिगुणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिगुण (प्रातिपदिक) = त्रि + गुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (त्रयः गुणाः यस्य)

• अगुणाय: to the attributeless (one)
• अगुणाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगुण (प्रातिपदिक) = अ- + गुण
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (नञ्-तत्पुरुषः)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• ब्रह्मविष्णुस्वरूपिणे: to the one whose form is Brahmā and Viṣṇu
• ब्रह्मविष्णुस्वरूपिणे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मविष्णुस्वरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक) = ब्रह्म + विष्णु + स्वरूपिन्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्म-विष्णु-स्वरूपः यस्य)

• कर्त्रे: to the creator
• कर्त्रे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• हर्त्रे: to the remover/destroyer
• हर्त्रे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• सुरेशाय: to the lord of the gods
• सुरेशाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरेश (प्रातिपदिक) = सुर + ईश
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (सुराणाम् ईशः)

• सर्वगाय: to the all-pervading one
• सर्वगाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वग (प्रातिपदिक) = सर्व + ग
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (सर्वत्र गच्छति)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Bhava (Exclamation/भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (salutation as exclamation)

• नमः: salutation (again)
• नमः: Bhava (Exclamation/भाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), offering praise (stuti) to Lord Vishnu / the Supreme

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Supreme is both associated with the three guṇas (as cosmic functions) and ultimately nirguṇa; manifests as creator and withdrawer while remaining all-pervading.

Vedantic Theme: Nirguṇa–saguṇa synthesis; Brahman as the substratum of cosmic roles (upādhi-based functions) without losing transcendence.

Application: Contemplate the Lord as simultaneously immanent in cosmic processes and beyond attributes; use the verse as a daily stuti to steady the mind in non-dual reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.55-57 (meditation on Viṣṇu/Hayagrīva and fruit of recitation)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'triguṇa' and 'aguṇa' teaching in the Garuda Purana?

This verse praises the Supreme as both immanent (operating through sattva, rajas, tamas in creation) and transcendent (beyond all qualities), a key Purāṇic way to reconcile devotion to form with ultimate reality.

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

By identifying the Lord as Creator and Withdrawer and as all-pervading, it frames the soul’s journey—life, death, and beyond—as occurring within divine governance, encouraging surrender and right conduct under dharma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate devotion and humility through daily namaskāra, while remembering that the Divine is present in all beings (sarvaga); this supports ethical living, self-control, and steadiness amid change.