Shloka 111

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

विष्णवे श्रीधरायाथ नमस्कुर्याच्च भामिति / उत्तरे तु महाकन्ये हृषीकेशाय वै नमः

Transliteration

viṣṇave śrīdharāyātha namaskuryācca bhāmiti / uttare tu mahākanye hṛṣīkeśāya vai namaḥ

Translation

Em seguida, deve-se inclinar dizendo: “Saudações a Viṣṇu, a Śrīdhara”, e, conforme prescrito, pronunciar “bhā”. E, ao norte, ó grande donzela, diga-se de fato: “Saudações a Hṛṣīkeśa”.

Word by Word

• विष्णवे: to Viṣṇu
• विष्णवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/दत्त), एकवचन; Dative singular

• श्रीधराय: to Śrīdhara
• श्रीधराय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular; समास: श्री + धर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘श्रियाः धरः’ = bearer of Śrī)

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (sequence marker)

• नमस्कुर्यात्: should bow/salute
• नमस्कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada; ‘he/she should bow/salute’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• भामि: O fair lady
• भामि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Vocative singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; Locative singular; दिशि (in the northern direction)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषणार्थक (but/indeed)

• महाकन्ये: O great maiden
• महाकन्ये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular; समास: महा + कन्या (कर्मधारय: ‘महती कन्या’)

• हृषीकेशाय: to Hṛṣīkeśa
• हृषीकेशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular; समास: हृषीक + ईश (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘हृषीकाणाम् ईशः’ = lord of the senses)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक (indeed/emphatic)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; ‘नमः’ इति निपातवत् (indeclinable interjection of salutation); दत्त-सम्बन्धे चतुर्थ्यर्थे प्रयोगः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Hṛṣīkeśa—Lord of the senses—invoked to discipline indriyas; Śrīdhara invoked for auspicious steadiness; precise mantra-syllable (‘bhā’) indicates nyāsa/bīja-like ritual exactness.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha as support for liberation; devotion joined with disciplined practice (bhakti + yoga-like restraint).

Application: Pair nāma-japa with a brief pause of sense-withdrawal: after ‘Hṛṣīkeśāya namaḥ’, relax the senses and return attention inward.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space/mandala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.107-110 (directional sequence culminating here)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shridhara
• Hrishikesha

FAQs

What is the importance of directional salutations in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that specific directions (here, the north) are assigned specific invocations of Viṣṇu’s names, indicating a ritual structure meant to align the act of worship with cosmological order and protection.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals?

In the Preta Kāṇḍa context, such invocations are part of prescribed rites meant to secure auspiciousness and spiritual safeguarding by calling upon Viṣṇu (Śrīdhara/Hṛṣīkeśa) during transitional funeral or post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Even outside full ritual settings, one can cultivate steadiness and devotion by offering respectful salutations to Viṣṇu’s names with mindful orientation and disciplined recitation.