Shloka 11

The Ninefold Rite (Navavidhi): Worship of Sudarśana-Cakra and the Disease-Destroying Hymn

Devanagari script

पालनार्थाय लोकानां दुष्टासुरविनाशिने / उग्राय चैव सौम्याय चण्डाय च नमोनमः

Transliteration

pālanārthāya lokānāṃ duṣṭāsuravināśine / ugrāya caiva saumyāya caṇḍāya ca namonamaḥ

Translation

உலகங்களைப் பாதுகாக்கும் பொருட்டு, தீய அசுரர்களை அழிப்பவனே; உக்கிரனும் சௌம்யனும், சண்ட-பராக்கிரமனும் ஆனவனே—உமக்கு மீண்டும் மீண்டும் நமஸ்காரம்।

Word by Word

• पालनार्थाय: for the purpose of protection
• पालनार्थाय: Sampradana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पालन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पालनस्य अर्थः)

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/people
• लोकानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• दुष्टासुरविनाशिने: to the destroyer of wicked demons
• दुष्टासुरविनाशिने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दुष्टानाम् असुराणां विनाशिन्)

• उग्राय: to the fierce one
• उग्राय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• च: and
• च: None (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: None (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सौम्याय: to the gentle one
• सौम्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• चण्डाय: to the fierce/terrible one
• चण्डाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः

• च: and
• च: None (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: None (Exclamation/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात); नमः-शब्दः

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: None (Exclamation/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात); पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinātā-putra), offering a hymn of salutations to Lord Vishnu/Nārāyaṇa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The same Lord manifests as ugra and saumya—fierce toward adharma, gentle toward devotees—maintaining cosmic balance.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s līlā through guṇa-appropriate manifestations; one reality appearing as many functions without internal contradiction.

Application: In adversity, invoke the Lord’s protective aspect; cultivate discernment—firmness against harm, gentleness toward the vulnerable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana devotional hymns to the Lord as protector of bhaktas and destroyer of asuras

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu (implied)
• Asuras (demons)

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Vishnu as both fierce and gentle in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights Vishnu’s complete sovereignty: He protects devotees and the cosmic order (saumya), yet becomes formidable to remove adharma and destructive forces (ugra/caṇḍa).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it frames the Purana’s afterlife teachings within devotion: refuge in the preserver who upholds order is presented as a stabilizing spiritual foundation amid discussions of karma and post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate balanced strength—be compassionate in daily conduct, but firm against harmful habits and injustice—while using devotional remembrance as a discipline for ethical living.