Shloka 2

शङ्खचक्रधरं देवं व्यक्तरूपिणमव्ययम् / अधो ऽक्षजं प्रपन्नोस्मि किन्नो मृत्युः करिष्यति

śaṅkhacakradharaṃ devaṃ vyaktarūpiṇamavyayam / adho 'kṣajaṃ prapannosmi kinno mṛtyuḥ kariṣyati

ข้าพเจ้าขอถึงพระผู้ทรงสังข์และจักร ผู้ปรากฏเป็นรูปแต่ไม่เสื่อมสูญ คืออธกษชะผู้พ้นวิสัยแห่งอินทรีย์—แล้วความตายจะทำอะไรได้?

शङ्खचक्रधरम्bearing conch and discus
शङ्खचक्रधरम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootशङ्ख + चक्र + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शङ्खस्य चक्रस्य च धरः)
देवम्the god
देवम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
व्यक्तरूपिणम्of manifest form
व्यक्तरूपिणम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootव्यक्त + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (व्यक्तं रूपं यस्य)
अव्ययम्imperishable
अव्ययम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); नित्य/अपरिणामि अर्थे
अधःbelow; (also) down
अधः:
Kriya-visheshana (Verb-modifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअधः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अव्यय-विशेषण (adverb)
अक्षजम्Akṣaja (the Unborn/Viṣṇu)
अक्षजम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअक्षज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
प्रपन्नःsurrendered
प्रपन्नः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र + पद् (धातु) → प्रपन्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
अस्मिI am
अस्मि:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
किम्what
किम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); प्रश्नार्थक
नःof us / to us
नः:
Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootअस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural); एन्क्लिटिक
मृत्युःdeath
मृत्युः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
करिष्यतिwill do
करिष्यति:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
Formलृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

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)

V
Vishnu
M
Mrityu (Death)

FAQs

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.