Shloka 116

Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi

Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

दीपस्तंभः कुत्र पलायितोभूदतो मूलं विष्णुपादं भजस्व / लक्ष्मीदिने पूजयित्वा च लक्ष्मीं सूत्रं तस्याः स्वगले धारय त्वम्

Transliteration

dīpastaṃbhaḥ kutra palāyitobhūdato mūlaṃ viṣṇupādaṃ bhajasva / lakṣmīdine pūjayitvā ca lakṣmīṃ sūtraṃ tasyāḥ svagale dhāraya tvam

Translation

เสาโคมประทีปหนีไปแห่งใด? เพราะฉะนั้นจงพึ่งรากแท้—คือบาทศักดิ์สิทธิ์แห่งพระวิษณุ. ในวันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของพระลักษมี จงบูชาพระลักษมี แล้วสวมด้ายศักดิ์สิทธิ์ของนาง (เครื่องราง) ไว้ที่คอของตน

Word by Word

• dīpastaṃbhaḥ: the lamp-post/pillar
• dīpastaṃbhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa-stambha (प्रातिपदिक; दीप + स्तम्भ)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kutra: where
• kutra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण; interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutra (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक अव्यय)

• palāyitaḥ: having fled
• palāyitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: palāy (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (भूतकृदन्त/क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• abhūt: became/was
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Aorist/Perfective past (लुङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ataḥ: therefore/from that
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Causal/ablatival particle (हेतुवाचक/अपादानार्थक अव्यय)

• mūlam: root, basis
• mūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇupādam: Vishnu’s feet
• viṣṇupādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu-pāda (प्रातिपदिक; विष्णु + पाद)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhajasva: worship/seek refuge in
• bhajasva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhaj (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• lakṣmīdine: on Lakshmi-day
• lakṣmīdine: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī-dina (प्रातिपदिक; लक्ष्मी + दिन)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped
• pūjayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having worshipped’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• lakṣmīm: Lakshmi
• lakṣmīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sūtram: thread
• sūtram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; possession)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• svagale: on your own neck
• svagale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva-gala (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + गल)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhāraya: wear/hold
• dhāraya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक; सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the teaching narrative)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worldly supports are unstable; true ‘root’ refuge is Vishnu’s feet; Lakshmi worship is to be integrated as auspicious devotion under Vishnu’s shelter.

Vedantic Theme: Sharanāgati and nitya-anitya-viveka (discerning the impermanent from the permanent) with Vishnu as the stable adhara.

Application: Prioritize daily remembrance of Vishnu (especially pāda-sevā/namaskāra); observe Lakshmi-vrata/puja on her sacred day; wear a consecrated protective thread as a reminder of vows and devotion rather than mere superstition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa themes: impermanence of wealth and need for Vishnu-refuge (adjacent verses 3.28.117ff)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Lakshmi

FAQs

What is the importance of taking refuge at Vishnu’s feet in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Vishnu’s feet as the “root” (true foundation) when external supports fail, emphasizing bhakti and surrender as the most reliable spiritual refuge.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

It gives a direct ritual instruction: on an auspicious day dedicated to Lakshmi, one should worship her and then wear a Lakshmi-related protective thread (sūtra) at the neck as a sign of observance and devotion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Prioritize steady devotion and ethical living as the foundation, and if observing a Lakshmi-vrata, perform worship with sincerity and keep a simple vow/marker (like a sacred thread) as a reminder of discipline and gratitude.