Shloka 14

Acyuta/Vāsudeva Stotra: Avatāra-Salutations, Ritual Totality, Forgiveness Prayer, and Phalaśruti

Devanagari script

नमस्ते स्ताद्विश्वनाथ नमस्तेः विश्वकारण / नमस्ते मधुदैत्यघ्न नमस्ते रावणान्तक

Transliteration

namaste stādviśvanātha namasteḥ viśvakāraṇa / namaste madhudaityaghna namaste rāvaṇāntaka

Translation

హే విశ్వనాథా, నీకు నమస్కారం; హే విశ్వకారణా, నీకు నమస్కారం. హే మధుదైత్యఘ్నా, నీకు నమస్కారం; హే రావణాంతకా, నీకు నమస్కారం.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन

• स्तात्: may it be
• स्तात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive usage); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (स्तात् = may it be)

• विश्वनाथ: O Lord of the universe
• विश्वनाथ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—विश्वस्य नाथः (O lord of the universe)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन; (पाठे 'नमस्तेः' इति दृश्यते—अत्र 'नमस्ते' एव युक्तम्)

• विश्वकारण: O cause of the universe
• विश्वकारण: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—विश्वस्य कारणम् (O cause of the universe)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन

• मधुदैत्यघ्न: O slayer of (the demon) Madhu
• मधुदैत्यघ्न: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (हन् धातु; कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative); एकवचन; षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—मधु-नामकं दैत्यं हन्ति इति (slayer of the demon Madhu)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधनार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपात

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative) एकवचन

• रावणान्तक: O slayer of Rāvaṇa
• रावणान्तक: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—रावणस्य अन्तकः (O destroyer of Rāvaṇa)

Speaker

Garuda (Vinātā-putra), offering praise to Lord Viṣṇu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord as viśvanātha and viśva-kāraṇa (ultimate cause) also acts as destroyer of adharma (Madhu-dait-ya-ghna, Rāvaṇāntaka).

Vedantic Theme: The causal ground (kāraṇa) is not inert: it is conscious and protective; divine justice operates within līlā.

Application: Strengthen moral courage: oppose harm and injustice while grounding action in remembrance of the higher order.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mythic battlefield; fortified city (Laṅkā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: stutis naming the Lord as slayer of demons and protector (general parallel usage)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Madhu
• Ravana

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Viṣṇu as Viśvanātha and Viśvakāraṇa in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

It affirms Viṣṇu as both the sovereign of creation and its ultimate cause, grounding the teaching in devotion and dependence on the Supreme.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by invoking Viṣṇu’s supreme lordship and protective power, it points to devotion and surrender as supports for right conduct and spiritual welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these names as a daily namaskāra—remembering the divine as the world’s ruler and cause—to cultivate steadiness, dharma, and fearlessness.