Shloka 1

Viṣṇu-dhyāna: Saguṇa Iconography, Nirguṇa Framework, and the Vāsudeva Insight

Devanagari script

ऽध्यायः रुद्रौवाच / विष्णोर्ध्यानं पुनर्ब्रूहि शङ्खचक्रगदाधर / येन विज्ञातमात्रेण कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नरः

Transliteration

'dhyāyaḥ rudrauvāca / viṣṇordhyānaṃ punarbrūhi śaṅkhacakragadādhara / yena vijñātamātreṇa kṛtakṛtyo bhavennaraḥ

Translation

รุทระกล่าวว่า “โอ ผู้ทรงสังข์ จักร และคทา จงกล่าวสมาธิภาวนาต่อพระวิษณุอีกครั้งเถิด เพียงรู้ความนี้ มนุษย์ย่อมเป็นผู้สำเร็จกิจทั้งปวง”

Word by Word

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Topic/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शीर्षक/निर्देश

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• ब्रूहि: tell
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ/Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शङ्खचक्रगदाधर: O bearer of conch, discus, and mace
• शङ्खचक्रगदाधर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: शङ्खं च चक्रं च गदां च धरतीति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष/बहुपद-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक

• विज्ञातमात्रेण: by mere knowing/realization
• विज्ञातमात्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: विज्ञातस्य मात्रम् इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृतकृत्यः: one who has accomplished what is to be done
• कृतकृत्यः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; कृ धातु + क्त) + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: कृतं कृत्यं यस्य/कृतकृत्यः (कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-प्रयोग); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नर-विशेषण

• भवेत्: would become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Rudra (Śiva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditation on Viṣṇu, once truly understood, grants kṛtakṛtyatā—spiritual fulfillment and completion of life’s purpose.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā as a direct means to purification and liberation-readiness; the Supreme as Viṣṇu accessible through dhyāna.

Application: Adopt a daily Viṣṇu-dhyāna practice with iconographic support (conch, discus, mace); study/reflect until ‘mere understanding’ becomes steady conviction and remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine discourse assembly

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.91.15–17 (prior nirguṇa/jñāna framing leading into dhyāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of Viṣṇu-dhyāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Viṣṇu-meditation as a complete spiritual means: simply knowing and internalizing it is said to make a person “kṛtakṛtya,” one who has fulfilled life’s highest purpose.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing post-death geography here, the verse points to the inner cause of liberation: sustained contemplation of Viṣṇu, which is presented as sufficient for spiritual completion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily practice of focused Viṣṇu contemplation (form, qualities, and remembrance), treating it as a primary discipline alongside ethical living and devotion.