Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

स दीर्घः सशिरश्छिद्रो यो(ऽनिरुद्धस्तु) वर्तुलः / नीलो द्वारि त्रिरेखश्च अथ (नारायणो)ऽसितः

Transliteration

sa dīrghaḥ saśiraśchidro yo('niruddhastu) vartulaḥ / nīlo dvāri trirekhaśca atha (nārāyaṇo)'sitaḥ

Translation

एको दीर्घः, एकः सशिरश्छिद्रयुक्तः; (अनिरुद्धः) अन्यो वर्तुलाकारः। द्वारे नीलवर्णः त्रिरेखाङ्कितः; ततः (नारायणः) असितवर्णो विराजते।

Word by Word

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• दीर्घः: long
• दीर्घः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• सशिरःछिद्रः: having a hole on the head / head-perforated
• सशिरःछिद्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-शिरस्-छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक; स + शिरस् + छिद्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (उपपद/निर्धारण), ‘शिरसि छिद्रं यस्य/शिरः-छिद्रः’ इत्यर्थे; विशेषण

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• अनिरुद्धः: Aniruddha
• अनिरुद्धः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिरुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम (proper name)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• वर्तुलः: round
• वर्तुलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्तुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• नीलः: blue/dark
• नीलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्वारि: at the door/at the gateway
• द्वारि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; स्थानाधिकरण

• त्रिरेखः: having three lines
• त्रिरेखः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि-रेखा (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + रेखा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (संख्यापूर्वक), ‘त्रयः रेखाः यस्य’ इत्यर्थे; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ-बोधक (then/now)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• असितः: dark/black
• असितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Nārāyaṇa) speaking to Garuda (Vinātā-putra), contextually within the Viṣṇu–Garuda dialogue of the Garuḍa Purāṇa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditative remembrance of Viṣṇu’s differentiated forms and marks as protective presences.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-brahman upāsanā: the One approached through many recognizable forms (nāma-rūpa) without losing unity.

Application: Use as dhyāna/nyāsa: visualize each form and its lakṣaṇas at body-points or shrine-threshold for protection and steadiness of mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/entrance to a shrine or ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45 (protective/mark-based Viṣṇu-form enumeration continuing in 1.45.17–20)

Characters & Entities

• Aniruddha
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of the forms like Aniruddha and Nārāyaṇa in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse lists distinct forms/identifiers (shape, color, markings) to distinguish sacred presences; it emphasizes recognizing Viṣṇu’s manifestations (e.g., Aniruddha, Nārāyaṇa) through traditional iconographic cues.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

In this specific verse, the focus is not directly on the soul’s post-death journey but on identifying divine forms/signs; such recognition functions as spiritual orientation and protection within the broader Purāṇic teaching framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use traditional markers (names, colors, sacred signs) to cultivate focused remembrance of Viṣṇu in worship—especially at thresholds (home/temple entry), reinforcing mindfulness and reverence in daily conduct.