Shloka 9

Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva

Devanagari script

जल भित्त्वा यथा पद्मं नरकादुद्धराम्यहम् / शालग्रामजिला यत्र यत्र द्वारवती शिला

Transliteration

jala bhittvā yathā padmaṃ narakāduddharāmyaham / śālagrāmajilā yatra yatra dvāravatī śilā

Translation

నీటిని చీల్చుకొని పద్మం పైకి లేచినట్లే, నేను భక్తుణ్ని నరకం నుండి उद्धరిస్తాను—ఎక్కడెక్కడ శాలగ్రామశిల ఉన్నదో, ఎక్కడెక్కడ పవిత్ర ద్వారవతీశిల ఉన్నదో అక్కడ।

Word by Word

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• भित्त्वा: having pierced
• भित्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal form; ‘having split/pierced’

• यथा: as/just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle/adverb (उपमानवाचक-अव्यय)

• पद्मम्: lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• नरकात्: from hell
• नरकात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• उद्धरामि: I lift out/rescue
• उद्धरामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-हृ (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Common (उभयलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 1st person pronoun

• शालग्रामजिला: Śālagrāma stone
• शालग्रामजिला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘Śālagrāma stone’

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• यत्र: wherever
• यत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: Relative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय), repetition for emphasis

• द्वारवती: Dvaravati (Dwarka)
• द्वारवती: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारवती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper noun used attributively

• शिला: stone
• शिला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Naraka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bhagavān’s saving power operates through His sacred embodiments (śilā-svarūpa); proximity and devotion to these forms becomes a cause for rescue even from naraka.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) as decisive; the Lord is not limited by place—His presence is invoked through consecrated symbols, making liberation accessible within household worship.

Application: Keep and worship Śālagrāma (and/or Dvāravatī-śilā) with purity and regularity; treat the worship-space as a tīrtha; cultivate faith that divine aid can reverse even severe karmic fear.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha/kshetra (via sacred aniconic forms)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring glorification of Viṣṇu’s names, forms, and sacred objects as pāpa-kṣaya and mokṣa-hetu; Garuda Purana: naraka descriptions contrasted with saving acts of Viṣṇu-bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda
• Naraka
• Śālagrāma
• Dvāravatī-śilā

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śālagrāma as a powerful Viṣṇu-emblem whose presence is said to enable divine rescue from naraka, making it highly valued in śrāddha and related rites for the departed.

How does this verse explain deliverance from naraka?

Using the lotus metaphor, the verse states that Viṣṇu Himself “lifts up” beings from hellish states wherever Śālagrāma or Dvāravatī-śilā is present, implying sanctifying protection through these sacred stones.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain reverence for Viṣṇu-symbols (like Śālagrāma) and perform ancestral rites with sincerity, ethical living, and devotion—treating sacred objects as reminders to align actions with dharma.