शङ्खचक्रधरं देवं व्यक्तरूपिणमव्ययम् / अधो ऽक्षजं प्रपन्नोस्मि किन्नो मृत्युः करिष्यति
śaṅkhacakradharaṃ devaṃ vyaktarūpiṇamavyayam / adho 'kṣajaṃ prapannosmi kinno mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati
ข้าพเจ้าขอถึงพระผู้ทรงสังข์และจักร ผู้ปรากฏเป็นรูปแต่ไม่เสื่อมสูญ คืออธกษชะผู้พ้นวิสัยแห่งอินทรีย์—แล้วความตายจะทำอะไรได้?
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the devotional-protective context of the Garuda Purana)
Concept: The Lord is both manifest (vyakta-rūpin) and imperishable (avyaya); taking refuge in Adhokṣaja makes death ineffectual.
Vedantic Theme: Saguna–nirguna coordination: the same Brahman is approachable in form yet transcends the senses; reliance on the imperishable reality dissolves mṛtyu-bhaya.
Application: Meditate on Viṣṇu’s conch and discus as symbols of dharma and protection; practice nāma-smaraṇa with the understanding that the refuge is beyond changing phenomena.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu as protector and the efficacy of nāma/stotra against fear (thematic internal parallel)
This verse presents prapatti—taking refuge in imperishable Vishnu—as a direct remedy for fear of death, implying spiritual protection through unwavering reliance on the Divine.
By emphasizing refuge in Adhokṣaja (beyond the senses), it points to God-remembrance as the soul’s anchor, suggesting that devotion transcends the terrors associated with Death’s domain.
Cultivate daily remembrance of Vishnu (especially as śaṅkha-cakra-dhara) and practice surrender in conduct; it strengthens courage, ethical living, and steadiness when facing mortality.