Shloka 3

Mṛtyvaṣṭaka of Mārkaṇḍeya: Refuge in Viṣṇu and the Withdrawal of Death

Devanagari script

वराहं वामनं विष्णुं नारसिंहं जनार्दनम् / माधवं च प्रपन्नो ऽस्मि किन्नो मृत्युः करिष्यति

Transliteration

varāhaṃ vāmanaṃ viṣṇuṃ nārasiṃhaṃ janārdanam / mādhavaṃ ca prapanno 'smi kinno mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati

Translation

Aku berlindung pada Varāha, Vāmana, Viṣṇu, Nārasiṃha, Janārdana, dan Mādhava—maka apakah yang Maut dapat lakukan kepadaku?

Word by Word

• वराहम्: Varāha
• वराहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वामनम्: Vāmana
• वामनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नारसिंहम्: Nārasiṃha (Man-Lion)
• नारसिंहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (नर-सिंहः)

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• माधवम्: Mādhava
• माधवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रपन्नः: surrendered
• प्रपन्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु) → प्रपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); प्रश्नार्थक

• नः: of us / to us
• नः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); एन्क्लिटिक

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• करिष्यति: will do
• करिष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

A devotee / the one reciting a protective surrender (śaraṇāgati) formula within the Garuda Purana’s instruction to Garuda

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nāma and avatāra-smaraṇa as refuge: the Lord’s manifold descents collectively protect the surrendered devotee from death’s dominion.

Vedantic Theme: One supreme reality appearing in many forms for loka-saṅgraha; unity-in-diversity of Īśvara’s manifestations supports steadfast devotion.

Application: Recite as a protective nāma-stotra; contemplate each avatāra’s specific protection (Varāha-lifting, Vāmana-restoring order, Narasiṃha-destroying fear) to strengthen resilience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: avatāra and nāma-stuti sections (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Varaha
• Vamana
• Vishnu
• Narasimha
• Janardana
• Madhava
• Mrityu

FAQs

What is the importance of surrender (prapatti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents śaraṇāgati—taking refuge in Viṣṇu and his forms—as a direct antidote to fear of death, emphasizing spiritual security beyond bodily mortality.

How does this verse relate to Yama or the after-death journey described in the Garuda Purana?

While it does not describe Yama’s realm directly, it frames devotion to Viṣṇu as protective power that overrides terror associated with death and the post-death ordeals taught elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly remember and recite Viṣṇu’s names with genuine surrender, and cultivate a life of dharma—this steadies the mind against fear, especially during illness, crisis, or thoughts of death.