Shloka 12

Dūrvāṣṭamī Vrata and Rohiṇī-Yukta Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī: Mantras, Arghya, and Viṣṇu-Nāma Salutations

Devanagari script

दामोदरं पद्मनाभं केशवं गारुडध्वजम् / गोविन्दमच्युतं देवमनन्तम पराजितम्

Transliteration

dāmodaraṃ padmanābhaṃ keśavaṃ gāruḍadhvajam / govindamacyutaṃ devamanantama parājitam

Translation

ข้าขอนอบน้อมแด่พระทาโมทร พระปัทมนาภะ พระเกศวะผู้มีธงครุฑ; แด่พระโควินทะ พระอจยุตเทวะผู้ไม่คลาดเคลื่อน แด่อนันตะผู้ไร้สิ้นสุด และแด่พระผู้ไม่อาจพิชิตได้

Word by Word

• दामोदरम्: Dāmodara
• दामोदरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाम (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बहुव्रीहि (दाम उदरे यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पद्मनाभम्: Padmanābha (lotus-naveled)
• पद्मनाभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + नाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: बहुव्रीहि (पद्मं नाभौ यस्य), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• केशवम्: Keśava
• केशवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गारुडध्वजम्: one whose banner is Garuḍa
• गारुडध्वजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गारुड (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (गारुडः ध्वजः यस्य/गारुडध्वजः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गोविन्दम्: Govinda
• गोविन्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + विन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (गवां विन्दः/गोविन्दः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (the infallible)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अनन्तम्: Ananta / endless
• अनन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अपराजितम्: unconquered
• अपराजितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (to देवम्/अनन्तम्)

Speaker

Narrator/reciter (stotra-style invocation within the Garuda Purana context; not direct dialogue attribution in this isolated verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Smarana of Vishnu as the unfailing refuge (Acyuta), endless (Ananta), and unconquered (Aparājita); devotion stabilizes identity in the imperishable rather than the transient.

Vedantic Theme: Acyuta as the unfallen Reality; nāma as a direct support for liberation-oriented recollection (smṛti) and surrender (śaraṇāgati).

Application: Daily recitation of these names as a grounding practice; in adversity, recall ‘Acyuta/Aparājita’ to reduce fear and act dharmically.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: liturgical recitation context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.131.11 (preceding Vishnu-nama salutations)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of chanting Vishnu’s names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a devotional invocation: remembering Vishnu as Acyuta (infallible), Ananta (infinite), and Aparājita (unconquered) is presented as spiritually purifying and protective, supporting a mind oriented toward liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by centering the consciousness on Vishnu through nāma-smaraṇa (remembrance of divine names), it points to devotion and surrender as a stabilizing spiritual practice associated with auspicious passage and ultimate moksha.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as daily nāma-japa or as an opening prayer before śrāddha/ancestral rites, cultivating steadiness, ethical living, and remembrance of the divine in times of fear or grief.