Shloka 20

Dūrvāṣṭamī Vrata and Rohiṇī-Yukta Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī: Mantras, Arghya, and Viṣṇu-Nāma Salutations

Devanagari script

त्राहि मां देवदेवेश ! त्वामृते ऽन्यो न रक्षिता / स्वजन्म वासुदेवाप गोब्राह्मणहिताय च

Transliteration

trāhi māṃ devadeveśa ! tvāmṛte 'nyo na rakṣitā / svajanma vāsudevāpa gobrāhmaṇahitāya ca

Translation

Lindungilah aku, wahai Tuhan segala dewa! Selain Engkau tiada pelindung yang lain. Wahai Vāsudeva—yang menzahirkan diri menurut kehendak-Mu sendiri—demi kesejahteraan lembu dan para brāhmaṇa juga.

Word by Word

• त्राहि: protect (me)!
• त्राहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्रा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• देवदेवेश: O Lord of the gods
• देवदेवेश: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानां देवस्य ईशः / देवदेवानाम् ईशः)

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ऋते: without / except
• ऋते: Sambandha (Exclusion/वर्जन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गार्थक-निपातः/पूर्वपद-प्रयोगः ‘without/except’ (विना)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Kriya-nishedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• रक्षिता: (is) the protector / will protect
• रक्षिता: Kriya (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) → रक्षिता (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भविष्यत्कृदन्त (तृच्/तृन्-प्रत्ययः) ‘रक्षिता’ = ‘one who will protect’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय-प्रयोगः

• स्वजन्म: one’s own birth
• स्वजन्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वं जन्म)

• वासुदेवाप: O Vāsudeva (reading uncertain)
• वासुदेवाप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव + आप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा (8/1), एकवचन; पाठदोषसम्भावना—‘वासुदेव’ इत्यर्थे सम्बोधनः अपेक्षितः; समासः (वासुदेवः आप/आप्तः?)

• गोब्राह्मणहिताय: for the welfare of cows and Brahmins
• गोब्राह्मणहिताय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + ब्राह्मण + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (हित-शब्दः), चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गोब्राह्मणयोः हितम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinata-putra), addressing Lord Vishnu (Vasudeva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu alone is the ultimate protector; divine descent is for the welfare of cows and brāhmaṇas—i.e., protection of dharma and sacred order.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as sarva-śaraṇa; avatāra as compassionate intervention; dharma-rakṣaṇa as expression of divine will (svātantrya).

Application: Cultivate single-point refuge (ananya-śaraṇatā); support dharmic welfare—non-violence and care for animals, support for learning/ethical leadership, protection of vulnerable communities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu-stuti passages emphasizing sole refuge and avatāra purpose (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva (Lord Vishnu)
• Deva-devesha (Supreme Lord of the Devas)
• Go (cows)
• Brahmanas

FAQs

What is the importance of seeking refuge in Devadeveśa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents exclusive śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): the speaker declares that no protector exists apart from the Supreme Lord, emphasizing single-point reliance on Viṣṇu.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames the soul’s safety as dependent on divine protection rather than mere personal power—an attitude that supports dharmic living and reliance on the Lord amid fear and vulnerability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility and devotion: seek divine guidance in crises, and uphold dharma by supporting cow-protection and respect for learned, principled teachers (brāhmaṇas) as symbols of social and spiritual welfare.