Shloka 1

Dhyāna of Hari and the Procedure of Āditya/Sūrya Worship

Devanagari script

नाम पञ्चदशो ऽध्यायः रुद्र उवाच / पुनर्ध्यानं समाचक्ष्व शङ्खचक्रगदाधर / विष्णोरीशस्य देवस्य शुद्धस्य परमात्मनः

Transliteration

nāma pañcadaśo 'dhyāyaḥ rudra uvāca / punardhyānaṃ samācakṣva śaṅkhacakragadādhara / viṣṇorīśasya devasya śuddhasya paramātmanaḥ

Translation

Rudra berkata: “Wahai Pemegang sangkha, cakra dan gada, jelaskan sekali lagi meditasi kepada Viṣṇu—Tuhan Yang Berdaulat, Dewa, Yang Suci, Ātman Tertinggi.”

Word by Word

• nāma: (entitled)
• nāma: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक/उपपद (marker: 'named/entitled')

• pañcadaśaḥ: fifteenth
• pañcadaśaḥ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक) + daśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; द्विगु-समास (पञ्च च दश च)

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter
• adhyāyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• samācakṣva: tell/explain (to me)
• samācakṣva: Kriyā (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√cakṣ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara: O bearer of conch, discus, and mace
• śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara: Sambodhana (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शङ्खचक्रगदां धरति इति)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठī-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• īśasya: of the Lord
• īśasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठī-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• devasya: of the god
• devasya: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठī-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• śuddhasya: of the pure
• śuddhasya: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण

• paramātmanaḥ: of the Supreme Self
• paramātmanaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठī-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (परमः आत्मा)

Speaker

Rudra (Shiva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Request for Vishnu-dhyana: meditation on the pure Supreme Self, approached through iconic attributes (shankha, chakra, gada).

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana leading toward Paramatman realization; purity (śuddhatva) as divine nature and meditative aim.

Application: Use a structured visualization: begin with Vishnu’s emblems to steady attention, then deepen toward the sense of the pure witnessing Self.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.16.2 (Hari explains dhyana and metaphysical attributes); Garuda Purana Vishnu-sahasranama/namavali contexts (nearby chapters often pair nama and dhyana)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Vishnu (Shri Hari)
• Paramatma

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-dhyana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu-meditation as a direct contemplation of the Pure Supreme Self (Paramatma), indicating dhyana as a primary means for inner purification and devotion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying Vishnu as the Paramatma, it points to liberation-oriented spirituality: the soul’s highest aim is to remember and realize the Supreme, not merely perform external acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily Vishnu-smaraṇa (remembrance) through a short dhyana: visualize Vishnu with conch, discus, and mace, and cultivate purity of mind and conduct.