Shloka 153

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

प्रत्याहारो धारकश्च प्रत्याहारकरस्तथा / प्रभा कान्तिस्तथा ह्यर्चिः शुद्धस्फटिकसन्निभः

Transliteration

pratyāhāro dhārakaśca pratyāhārakarastathā / prabhā kāntistathā hyarciḥ śuddhasphaṭikasannibhaḥ

Translation

ఆయన ‘ప్రత్యాహార’ుడని, ‘ధారక’ుడని ప్రసిద్ధుడు; ప్రత్యాహారాన్ని కలిగించువాడూ ఆయనే. ఆయన ప్రభ, కాంతి, అర్చిస్సు నిర్మల స్ఫటికసమానము.

Word by Word

• प्रत्याहारः: withdrawal; restraint
• प्रत्याहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्याहार (प्रातिपदिक; प्रति+आ+√हृ (धातु) → प्रत्याहार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—उपपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रति+आहारः)

• धारकः: supporter; holder
• धारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारक (प्रातिपदिक; √धृ (धातु) + ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• प्रत्याहारकरः: one who performs restraint
• प्रत्याहारकरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्याहार-कर (प्रातिपदिक; प्रत्याहार + कर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्राय तत्पुरुष (प्रत्याहारं करोति)

• तथा: thus; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: ‘thus/also’)

• प्रभा: radiance; light
• प्रभा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कान्तिः: splendour; beauty
• कान्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थ (also)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; अवधारण/हेतौ (particle: indeed/for)

• अर्चिः: flame; ray
• अर्चिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अर्चिस्), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शुद्ध-स्फटिक-सन्निभः: resembling pure crystal
• शुद्ध-स्फटिक-सन्निभः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध + स्फटिक + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (शुद्धस्य स्फटिकस्य सन्निभः = like pure crystal)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratyāhāra (sense-withdrawal) and dhāraṇā/steadfast support are ultimately grounded in the Divine; purity of mind mirrors the Lord’s crystal-like brilliance.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin (inner ruler) and śuddha-sattva luminosity; the mind’s inward turn reveals the Self’s clarity.

Application: Practice pratyāhāra and steady attention while remembering the Lord as inner light; cultivate mental purity (śauca) to reflect that clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (Vishnu-sahasranāma-style nāma-stuti sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of pratyāhāra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights pratyāhāra (sense-withdrawal) as a defining spiritual function—an inner discipline that steadies the practitioner and enables deeper meditative states.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing withdrawal and steadiness, the verse points to inner mastery as a means to refine consciousness—supporting the soul’s movement toward clarity and liberation rather than outward entanglement.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily sense-restraint—brief periods of silence, breath-awareness, and reducing distractions—to cultivate steadiness and inner clarity.