Shloka 116

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

दामोदरस्त्निकालश्च कालज्ञः कालवर्जितः / त्रिसन्ध्यो द्वापरं त्रेता प्रजाद्वारं(७००)त्रिविक्रमः

Transliteration

dāmodarastnikālaśca kālajñaḥ kālavarjitaḥ / trisandhyo dvāparaṃ tretā prajādvāraṃ(700)trivikramaḥ

Translation

तो दामोदर; तो त्रिकालाचा स्वामी आहे। तो काळ जाणणारा, तरी काळातीत आहे। तो त्रिसंध्या-स्वरूप; तो द्वापर व त्रेता युग; तो प्रजाद्वार—उत्पत्तीचा स्रोत; आणि तो त्रिविक्रम आहे।

Word by Word

• दामोदरः: Dāmodara
• दामोदरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दामन् + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दाम्नः उदरम् यस्य/उदरं दाम्ना बद्धम्)

• त्रिकालः: the three times (past, present, future)
• त्रिकालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः कालाः = three times)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• कालज्ञः: knower of time
• कालज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + ज्ञ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कालं जानाति इति)

• कालवर्जितः: beyond time; devoid of time
• कालवर्जितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काल + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/√वर्ज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालेन वर्जितः = free from time)

• त्रिसन्ध्यः: the three sandhyās (dawn, noon, dusk)
• त्रिसन्ध्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (तिस्रः सन्ध्याः = three twilight junctions)

• द्वापरम्: Dvāpara (age)
• द्वापरम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; युगनाम

• त्रेता: Tretā (age)
• त्रेता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; युगनाम

• प्रजाद्वारम्: gateway for beings/creation
• प्रजाद्वारम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां द्वारम् = gateway for creatures)

• त्रिविक्रमः: Trivikrama (he of three strides)
• त्रिविक्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु/बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः (त्रीणि विक्रमाणि यस्य = he of three strides)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (as the subject of praise; taught in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord governs time and cycles yet is kāla-vivarjita (beyond time); aligning life with sacred junctions (sandhyā) and remembering His transcendence loosens bondage to temporality.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as kāla-niyantā and also akālika (beyond time); the world-process is dependent reality, while the Lord remains unconditioned.

Application: Observe tri-sandhyā mindfulness (brief prayer/japa at dawn/noon/dusk); contemplate impermanence of yuga-like cycles in personal life; anchor identity in the timeless witness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic realm

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (names relating to kāla, yuga, and Vāmana/Trivikrama motifs)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Damodara
• Trivikrama
• Dvapara Yuga
• Treta Yuga
• Sandhya (three junctions of day)

FAQs

What is the importance of Kāla (Time) in the Garuda Purana according to this verse?

This verse presents the Lord as both the knower and regulator of Time (kālajñaḥ) while also being beyond Time (kālavarjitaḥ), implying that cosmic change operates under Him but does not bind Him.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing the Lord as the source and gateway of beings (prajādvāram) and as the ruler of time and ages, it frames the soul’s journey as occurring within time-bound cycles (yugas) under divine order, with liberation oriented toward the timeless reality.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain discipline at the three sandhyās (regular prayer/ethical reset points in the day) and cultivate remembrance of the timeless divine to stay steady amid changing life-cycles and circumstances.