Shloka 18

Viṣṇu-dhyāna: Saguṇa Iconography, Nirguṇa Framework, and the Vāsudeva Insight

Devanagari script

धर्मोपदेशकर्तृत्वं संप्राप्यागात्परं पदम् / तस्मात्त्वमपि देवेश ! विष्णुं चिन्तय शङ्कर !

Transliteration

dharmopadeśakartṛtvaṃ saṃprāpyāgātparaṃ padam / tasmāttvamapi deveśa ! viṣṇuṃ cintaya śaṅkara !

Translation

ਧਰਮ ਦਾ ਉਪਦੇਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਕਰਤੱਬ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਕੇ ਉਹ ਪਰਮ ਪਦ ਨੂੰ ਚਲਾ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਹੇ ਦੇਵੇਸ਼! ਹੇ ਸ਼ੰਕਰ! ਤੂੰ ਵੀ ਵਿਸ਼ਨੂ ਦਾ ਚਿੰਤਨ ਕਰ।

Word by Word

• धर्मोपदेशकर्तृत्वम्: the role of teaching dharma
• धर्मोपदेशकर्तृत्वम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + उपदेश + कर्तृत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (धर्मस्य उपदेशस्य कर्तृत्वम्)

• संप्राप्य: having attained
• संप्राप्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + आप् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• अगात्: went, reached
• अगात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karman-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पदम्: abode, state
• पदम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति निपातवत्; हेत्वर्थे/तस्मादर्थे (therefore)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सामान्य, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपेक्षाबोधक निपात (also/even)

• देवेश: O Lord of gods
• देवेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देवानाम् ईशः)

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• चिन्तय: meditate on, think of
• चिन्तय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• शङ्कर: O Śaṅkara
• शङ्कर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Unclear from single-verse input (context needed; likely a narrator or a teacher-voice within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the exalted (Shankara) is urged to contemplate Vishnu; dharma-upadesha culminates in the supreme state through Vishnu-centered remembrance.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of dharma and upasana; the Supreme as Vishnu (Narayana) as final refuge; teacherhood (upadesha) as a sanctified life leading to liberation.

Application: Unite ethical instruction/service with daily Vishnu-smriti; treat teaching/mentoring as sadhana, ending each day with focused Vishnu-dhyana.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana sections praising Vishnu-smriti as the highest purifier and liberator, often concluding dharma discussions with bhakti-centric counsel

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Devesha (Lord of Devas)

FAQs

What is the importance of dharma-upadeśa (teaching dharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the sincere role of instructing others in dharma with reaching the “paramaṃ padam,” presenting dharma-teaching as a spiritually elevating act when grounded in true devotion.

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

It implies that right guidance in dharma and sustained remembrance/meditation on Viṣṇu are direct supports for attaining the highest state, emphasizing devotion aligned with righteous instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Study and share dharmic principles responsibly, and cultivate daily Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (remembrance/meditation) as a stabilizing practice for ethical living and inner clarity.