Shloka 37

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

महागतिर्मंहाकीर्तिर्महारूपो (२२२)महासुरः / मधुश्च माधवश्चैव महादेवो महेश्वरः

Transliteration

mahāgatirmaṃhākīrtirmahārūpo (222)mahāsuraḥ / madhuśca mādhavaścaiva mahādevo maheśvaraḥ

Translation

Baginda ialah haluan dan perlindungan tertinggi, termasyhur agung, berwajah luas lagi megah, serta Penakluk besar kaum asura. Baginda ialah Madhu dan Mādhava, dan juga Mahādeva—Maheśvara, Tuhan Yang Maha Agung.

Word by Word

• महागतिः: of great movement/attainment
• महागतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महागति (प्रातिपदिक; महा + गति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती गतिः)

• महाकीर्तिः: of great fame
• महाकीर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक; महा + कीर्ति)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महती कीर्तिः)

• महारूपः: of great form
• महारूपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महारूप (प्रातिपदिक; महा + रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महद् रूपम् यस्य)

• महासुरः: great asura
• महासुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महासुर (प्रातिपदिक; महा + असुर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् असुरः)

• मधुः: Madhu (name) / honey
• मधुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• माधवः: Mādhava (Vishnu)
• माधवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

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

• महादेवः: the great god
• महादेवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक; महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• महेश्वरः: the great lord
• महेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; महा + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra) — Vishnu-nāma stuti context

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord as gati (ultimate refuge) and kīrti (glory), destroyer of asuric forces; divine names unify protective power and supreme lordship.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the single supreme reality approached through multiple epithets; victory over ‘asuric’ tendencies as inner purification.

Application: Invoke the Lord as refuge during moral conflict; interpret ‘asura’ as inner vices to be conquered through devotion and disciplined action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (sequence of mahā-epithets; demon-slaying and refuge motifs)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhu
• Mādhava
• Mahādeva
• Maheśvara
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s epithets in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents divine names as concentrated teachings—each title highlights a specific attribute of the Supreme (refuge, glory, cosmic form, protector), supporting remembrance (smaraṇa) and devotion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By calling the Lord “mahā-gati” (supreme refuge/path), it implies that ultimate safety and liberation are grounded in turning the mind toward the Supreme, beyond fear of demonic forces and worldly instability.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these names in daily japa or prayer to cultivate steadiness, ethical strength, and devotion—remembering the Divine as protector and final refuge in times of anxiety or loss.