Shloka 160

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

पठन्द्विजश्च विष्णुत्वं क्षत्रियो जयमाप्नुयात् / वैश्यो धनं सुखं शूद्रो विष्णुभक्तिसमन्वितः

Transliteration

paṭhandvijaśca viṣṇutvaṃ kṣatriyo jayamāpnuyāt / vaiśyo dhanaṃ sukhaṃ śūdro viṣṇubhaktisamanvitaḥ

Translation

இதைப் பாராயணம் செய்தால் த்விஜன் (பிராமணன்) விஷ்ணுத்துவத்தை அடைவான்; க்ஷத்திரியன் வெற்றியைப் பெறுவான்; வைசியன் செல்வமும் இன்பமும் பெறுவான்; சூத்ரன் விஷ்ணு‑பக்தியால் நிறைவான்.

Word by Word

• paṭhan: reciting/reading
• paṭhan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √paṭh (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (while reciting)

• dvijaḥ: a twice-born (Brahmin)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• viṣṇutvam: Viṣṇu-hood; state of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇutvam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + -tva (तद्धित/भावप्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त

• kṣatriyaḥ: a Kṣatriya
• kṣatriyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• jayam: victory
• jayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• āpnuyāt: may obtain
• āpnuyāt: Kriyā (Predicate action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √āp (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• vaiśyaḥ: a Vaiśya
• vaiśyaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaiśya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śūdraḥ: a Śūdra
• śūdraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• viṣṇu-bhakti-samanvitaḥ: endowed with devotion to Viṣṇu
• viṣṇu-bhakti-samanvitaḥ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (कृदन्त; सम्-√इ/√वृ?; क्त, 'endowed')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विष्णुभक्त्या समन्वितः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Phala of recitation apportioned by varna: spiritual likeness, victory, wealth/happiness, and bhakti—suggesting accessibility of Vishnu practice across society.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as universally available; karma-phala framed within adhikara (eligibility) while pointing beyond to devotion.

Application: Encourage recitation/meditation for all practitioners; interpret ‘fruits’ as tailored motivations leading toward steadier Vishnu-bhakti.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.159 (sin-destroying nature); Garuda Purana 1.16.1-2 (transition to dhyana teaching)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Dvija
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya
• Śūdra

FAQs

What is the importance of phala-śruti (stated benefits) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a phala-śruti, encouraging recitation by describing concrete and spiritual outcomes—divine upliftment, victory, prosperity, happiness, and deepened devotion to Viṣṇu.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It emphasizes bhakti and sacred recitation as purifying disciplines: aligning one’s life with Viṣṇu through hearing/reading is presented as a direct means to inner transformation and favorable spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Regularly read or chant Viṣṇu-centered passages with sincerity; orient daily duties toward dharma, and use the practice to cultivate steadiness (victory), contentment (happiness), ethical prosperity (wealth), and devotion.