Shloka 4

Nāma-mahātmya: Liberation through Salutation, Chanting, and the Mantra “Namo Nārāyaṇāya”

Devanagari script

शक्तेनापि नमस्कारः प्रयुक्तश्चक्रपाणये / संसारतृणवर्गाणामुद्वेजनकरो हि सः

Transliteration

śaktenāpi namaskāraḥ prayuktaścakrapāṇaye / saṃsāratṛṇavargāṇāmudvejanakaro hi saḥ

Translation

Walau sekadar salam sujud yang kecil, dipersembahkan menurut kemampuan kepada Tuhan Pemegang Cakra (Viṣṇu), ia menjadi sebab yang menggentar bagi “rumpun rumput” ikatan saṃsāra—kuasa remeh yang menambat jiwa dalam dunia berputar.

Word by Word

• शक्तेन: by a capable (person)
• शक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) ‘even/also’

• नमस्कारः: salutation
• नमस्कारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रयुक्तः: performed, applied
• प्रयुक्तः: Karta (Predicate participle/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + युज् (धातु) → प्रयुक्त (भूतकृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (क्त/Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चक्रपाणये: to the one holding the discus (Vishnu)
• चक्रपाणये: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चक्रः पाणौ यस्य)

• संसारतृणवर्गाणाम्: of the straw-like groups of worldly beings
• संसारतृणवर्गाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार (प्रातिपदिक) + तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (संसारस्य तृणवर्गाः)

• उद्वेजनकरः: causing agitation/awakening
• उद्वेजनकरः: Karta (Predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्वेजन (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (उद्वेजनं करोति इति)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle) ‘indeed/for’

• सः: it/he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vainateya in instruction)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even a small namaskāra to Cakrapāṇi, done within one’s capacity, disrupts the forces of bondage.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as an upāya that burns saṃskāras; īśvara-anugraha surpassing personal limitation.

Application: Offer daily salutations regardless of status/means; rely on consistency and sincerity rather than grand ritual capacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated emphasis that simple Viṣṇu-smaraṇa/namaskāra overcomes saṃsāra (general motif)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Cakrapāṇi)

FAQs

What is the importance of namaskāra (salutation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that even a simple bow to Viṣṇu, done within one’s means, carries strong spiritual efficacy and weakens the forces that bind one to saṃsāra.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul toward liberation?

By emphasizing sincere devotion (even minimal), it indicates that turning the mind to Viṣṇu disrupts attachments and impediments, supporting progress toward mokṣa beyond repeated birth and death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer daily namaskāra to Viṣṇu with sincerity—especially in times of fear or moral weakness—as a simple discipline to reduce attachment and strengthen dharmic living.