Shloka 56

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

नृपाणां कारणं श्रेष्ठं धर्ंमस्यैव तु कारणम् / जन्तूनां कारणं चैव वसूनां कारणं परम्

Transliteration

nṛpāṇāṃ kāraṇaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ dharṃmasyaiva tu kāraṇam / jantūnāṃ kāraṇaṃ caiva vasūnāṃ kāraṇaṃ param

Translation

ธรรมะเป็นเหตุอันประเสริฐแห่งพระราชาทั้งหลาย และเป็นเหตุแห่งธรรมะเอง; เป็นเหตุแห่งสรรพสัตว์ทั้งหลาย และเป็นเหตุอันสูงสุดแห่งวสุ คือทรัพย์และทรัพยากร

Word by Word

• नृपाणाम्: of kings
• नृपाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठम्: excellent/supreme
• श्रेष्ठम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण कारणम्-शब्दस्य

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: व्यतिरेक/विरोध-अव्यय (particle)

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जन्तूनाम्: of creatures
• जन्तूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वसूनाम्: of the Vasus
• वसूनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• कारणम्: cause
• कारणम्: Karta/Predicate nominal (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परम्: supreme/ultimate
• परम्: Visheshana (Adjectival modifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण कारणम्-शब्दस्य

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is the supreme causal principle behind righteous rule, living beings’ flourishing, and the stability of wealth/resources (vasu).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as expression of ṛta and as Bhagavān’s ordinance sustaining loka-saṅgraha; ethical order as a manifestation of the cosmic order.

Application: Support just institutions, practice personal integrity, and treat wealth as stewardship; align livelihood with ethical principles to sustain collective well-being.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: polity/kingdom (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dharma-centered teachings on conduct, charity, and governance in non-Pretakalpa sections; Garuda Purana: praise of dharma as protector and sustainer

FAQs

What is the importance of Dharma in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents dharma as the supreme governing principle—shaping rulership, sustaining beings, and determining the rightful basis of prosperity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By establishing dharma as the highest causal law, it implies that one’s life-course and post-death outcomes are ultimately conditioned by adherence to dharma rather than mere power or wealth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize ethical duty in leadership and daily conduct; treat wealth as dharma-guided stewardship rather than an end in itself.