Shloka 17

Śālagrāma-lakṣaṇa: Viṣṇu Stotra, Vyūha/Avatāra Identification, and Temple-Fruition

Devanagari script

मध्ये गादकृती रेखा नाभिचक्रो (क्र) महोन्नतः / पृथुवक्षा (नृसिंहो) वः कपिलो ऽव्यात्त्रिबिन्दुकः

Transliteration

madhye gādakṛtī rekhā nābhicakro (kra) mahonnataḥ / pṛthuvakṣā (nṛsiṃho) vaḥ kapilo 'vyāttribindukaḥ

Translation

മദ്ധ്യേ ഗദാകൃതിയിലുള്ള രേഖയുള്ളവൻ, നാഭിചക്രം മഹോന്നതമായവൻ, (നൃസിംഹനെപ്പോലെ) വിശാലവക്ഷസ്സുള്ളവൻ, ത്രിബിന്ദു-ചിഹ്നധാരിയായ കപിലൻ നിങ്ങളെ കാക്കട്ടെ.

Word by Word

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; स्थानाधिकरण

• गादा: mace
• गादा: Sambandha (Qualifier element/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; (समास-पूर्वपद/उपमानार्थे)

• कृती: shape/form
• कृती: Sambandha (Appositional/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आकृति/रचना’ अर्थे

• रेखा: line/mark
• रेखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाभिचक्रः: having a wheel at the navel
• नाभिचक्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाभि-चक्र (प्रातिपदिक; नाभि + चक्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध), ‘नाभौ चक्रं यस्य’ इत्यर्थे; विशेषण

• महोन्नतः: very high/elevated
• महोन्नतः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत्-उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक; महत् + उन्नत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय, ‘महान् उन्नतः’ (very elevated); विशेषण

• पृथुवक्षाः: broad-chested
• पृथुवक्षाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथु-वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक; पृथु + वक्षस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय, ‘पृथु वक्षः यस्य’ (broad-chested); विशेषण

• नृसिंहः: Nṛsiṃha
• नृसिंहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ-सिंह (प्रातिपदिक; नृ + सिंह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारयवत्), ‘नर-सिंह-रूपः’; विशेष-नाम

• वः: for you / of you
• वः: Sampradana (Beneficiary/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-बहुवचन (Genitive/Dative plural) रूपम्; ‘you (all)’

• कपिलः: Kapila
• कपिलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• अव्यात्: may (he) protect
• अव्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘रक्षतु’ अर्थे (may he protect)

• त्रिबिन्दुकः: having three dots
• त्रिबिन्दुकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-बिन्दु (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + बिन्दु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु, ‘त्रीणि बिन्दूनि यस्य’; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a protective-stotra style passage)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protection through remembrance of Viṣṇu’s avatāra/aspect Kapila characterized by specific auspicious marks (rekhā, bindu, cakra).

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā leading to inner steadiness (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) by fixing mind on a divine form with lakṣaṇas.

Application: Recite as protective mantra while visualizing central gadā-shaped line, raised navel-cakra, broad chest, and three bindus; use in daily rakṣā before travel or worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45.16–20 (series of protective form-descriptions with avyāt/pātu formulas)

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Narasimha

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Kapila in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse functions as a protective invocation: Kapila is praised through identifiable auspicious marks (rekhā, nābhicakra, tribindu), and the devotee seeks safeguarding (avyāt) through remembrance of that sacred form.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on fear and unseen obstacles?

Even when the broader text discusses subtle realities and post-death states, it also prescribes protective recollection and stotra-like invocations; this verse exemplifies using sacred iconographic markers as a dhāraṇā (focused remembrance) for protection.

What is a practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short daily protective prayer—reciting with attention to the qualities named (strength like a gadā, centeredness at the navel-wheel, steadfast courage like Narasiṁha)—as a reminder to cultivate inner steadiness and dharmic conduct.