Shloka 34

Nārāyaṇa-Smaraṇa as the Supreme Dharma, Expiation, and Yogic Purifier

Devanagari script

ध्येयः सदा सवितृमण्डलमध्यवर्तो नारायणः सरसिजासनसन्निविष्टः / केयूरवान्मकरकुण्डलवान्किरीटी हारी हिरण्मयवपुर्धृतशङ्खचक्रः

Transliteration

dhyeyaḥ sadā savitṛmaṇḍalamadhyavarto nārāyaṇaḥ sarasijāsanasanniviṣṭaḥ / keyūravānmakarakuṇḍalavānkirīṭī hārī hiraṇmayavapurdhṛtaśaṅkhacakraḥ

Translation

พึงเพ่งภาวนาพระนารายณ์ผู้สถิต ณ กึ่งกลางดวงอาทิตย์ ประทับเหนือบัลลังก์ดอกบัว ทรงกำไลต้นแขน ทรงตุ้มหูรูปมกร ทรงมงกุฎ ทรงสร้อยอาภรณ์ มีพระวรกายเรืองรองดุจทอง และทรงสังข์กับจักร

Word by Word

• ध्येयः: to be meditated upon
• ध्येयः: Karya/Upapadya (to be contemplated; predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (कृदन्त; √ध्यै धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; धातु √ध्यै + यत् (gerundive/future passive participle) = 'to be meditated upon'

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• सवितृ-मण्डल-मध्य-वर्तः: dwelling in the middle of the solar orb
• सवितृ-मण्डल-मध्य-वर्तः: Visheshana (qualifier of Nārāyaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः—'सवितृमण्डलस्य मध्ये वर्तते' इति; विशेषण

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सरसिज-आसन-सन्निविष्टः: seated on a lotus-seat
• सरसिज-आसन-सन्निविष्टः: Visheshana (qualifier of Nārāyaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सरसिज (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निविष्ट (कृदन्त; √विश् धातु with सम्+नि उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; 'सरसिजासन' (lotus-seat) इत्यत्र षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषभावः; सन्निविष्टः = क्त (past participle) 'seated/settled'

• केयूरवान्: wearing armlets
• केयूरवान्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केयूरवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मतुप्/वत्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• मकर-कुण्डलवान्: wearing makara-earrings
• मकर-कुण्डलवान्: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मकर (प्रातिपदिक) + कुण्डलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'मकरकुण्डल' (makara-earrings) इति तत्पुरुष; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त 'possessing'

• किरीटी: crowned
• किरीटी: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• हारी: wearing a necklace
• हारी: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• हिरण्मय-वपुः-धृत-शङ्ख-चक्रः: golden-bodied, holding conch and discus
• हिरण्मय-वपुः-धृत-शङ्ख-चक्रः: Visheshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + धृत (कृदन्त; √धृ धातु) + शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषसमासः—(हिरण्मयवपुः) (धृतशङ्खचक्र) इति; धृत = क्त (past participle) 'holding'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Narayana), as instructed within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dhyāna on Nārāyaṇa with a precise iconic form (saguṇa-upāsanā) as a constant practice.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-upāsanā leading to citta-śuddhi and ekāgratā; the Lord as antaryāmin manifest through a luminous cosmic symbol.

Application: Adopt a daily meditation: visualize Nārāyaṇa seated on a lotus within the solar orb; hold śaṅkha-cakra and ornaments as stabilizing details for concentration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic locus (solar mandala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Uttara/Preta-related sections often prescribe Viṣṇu-dhyāna as purifier and protector)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Savitri (Sun orb, Savitṛ)
• Shankha
• Chakra

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on Narayana in the Sun-orb (savitṛmaṇḍala) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches a focused dhyāna: visualizing Nārāyaṇa as radiant and centered in the solar sphere, a contemplative practice meant to steady the mind, purify perception, and anchor devotion in a luminous, life-giving symbol (the Sun).

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on fear, death, and the afterlife?

By prescribing constant remembrance of Nārāyaṇa with clear iconographic details (conch and discus, golden form), the verse supports inner stability and spiritual orientation—qualities repeatedly emphasized in the Purāṇa as aids when facing mortality and transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a daily dhyāna: visualize a golden Nārāyaṇa seated on a lotus in the Sun’s center, then mentally repeat the verse or a Viṣṇu mantra; let the imagery cultivate clarity, restraint, and dharmic conduct.