Shloka 3

Śālagrāma-lakṣaṇa: Viṣṇu Stotra, Vyūha/Avatāra Identification, and Temple-Fruition

Devanagari script

सचक्रशङ्खाब्जगदो (माधवः) श्रीगदाधरः / गदब्जशङ्खचक्री वा (गोविन्दो)ऽर्च्यो गदाधरः

Transliteration

sacakraśaṅkhābjagado (mādhavaḥ) śrīgadādharaḥ / gadabjaśaṅkhacakrī vā (govindo)'rcyo gadādharaḥ

Translation

Mādhava—Śrī Gadādhara—wajar disembah sebagai Dia yang memegang cakra, sangkha, padma dan gada. Atau, Govinda—Gadādhara—wajar disembah sebagai Dia yang memegang gada, padma, sangkha dan cakra.

Word by Word

• sa: with
• sa: Sambandha (Association marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सह/युक्त अर्थे)

• cakra: discus
• cakra: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• śaṅkha: conch
• śaṅkha: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• abja: lotus
• abja: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• gadaḥ: mace
• gadaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (as final member of epithet)

• mādhavaḥ: Mādhava
• mādhavaḥ: Karta/Predicative (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mādhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (parenthetical in text)

• śrī: auspicious; revered
• śrī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद); honorific prefix 'śrī-'

• gadādharaḥ: Gadādhara
• gadādharaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā + dhara (प्रातिपदिक; from √dhṛ/धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'mace-bearer'

• gadā: mace
• gadā: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• abja: lotus
• abja: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• śaṅkha: conch
• śaṅkha: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, (समासपूर्वपद)

• cakrī: discus-bearing
• cakrī: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cakra + -in (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'cakra-धारिन्' (discus-bearing)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विकल्पार्थक; disjunctive particle)

• govindaḥ: Govinda
• govindaḥ: Karta/Predicative (Apposition/समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: govinda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; (parenthetical in text)

• arcyaḥ: worthy of worship
• arcyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arcya (प्रातिपदिक; from √arc/अर्च्)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय/gerundive sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'to be worshipped'

• gadādharaḥ: Gadādhara
• gadādharaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā + dhara (प्रातिपदिक; from √dhṛ/धृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Arcya-bhāva: the Lord is to be worshipped through specific form-names (Mādhava/Govinda) tied to emblem configuration.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā as a means to citta-śuddhi: form-based devotion stabilizes mind toward the all-pervading reality.

Application: During pūjā, recite the name matching the contemplated form; use the ‘either/or’ as allowance for iconographic variants while keeping devotion constant.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/household shrine (arcā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45: continuing series of Viṣṇu-nāma with weapon/hand permutations

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Madhava, Govinda, Gadadhara)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Vishnu as Chakra-Shankha-Padma-Gada in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes meditating on Vishnu through His defining emblems (discus, conch, lotus, mace), a standard Garuda Purana approach for focused devotion, purity of mind, and ritual correctness in worship.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on death rituals or the soul’s journey?

While not describing Yama’s path directly, the Garuda Purana repeatedly frames liberation and protection as rooted in Vishnu-bhakti; invoking Vishnu by name and iconography is presented as spiritually purifying support alongside ritual observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these names (Mādhava, Govinda, Gadādhara) and visualize the four emblems during daily japa or pūjā to cultivate steadiness, devotion, and ethical clarity.