Shloka 7

Mṛtyvaṣṭaka of Mārkaṇḍeya: Refuge in Viṣṇu and the Withdrawal of Death

Devanagari script

इत्युदीरितमाकर्ण्य स्तोत्रं तस्य महात्मनुः / अपयातस्ततो मृत्युर्विष्णुदूतैः प्रपीडितः

Transliteration

ityudīritamākarṇya stotraṃ tasya mahātmanuḥ / apayātastato mṛtyurviṣṇudūtaiḥ prapīḍitaḥ

Translation

Nang marinig ang himnong binigkas ng dakilang kaluluwang iyon, umurong ang Kamatayan, sapagkat siya’y pinigil at dinaig ng mga sugo ni Panginoong Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः; उद्धरण/समाप्ति-बोधक अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• उदीरितम्: uttered
• उदीरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + √ईर् (ईर्/प्रेरणे) → उदीरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘उक्तम्/उच्चारितम्’

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + √कर्ण्/√श्रु (श्रु/श्रवणे) → आकर्ण्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया—‘श्रुत्वा’

• स्तोत्रम्: hymn
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक-सामान्य

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा)

• अपयातः: departed
• अपयातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + √या (या/गत्यर्थे) → अपयात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘गतोऽभूत्/प्रस्थितः’

• ततः: then; from there
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/तदनन्तरम् (ablatival adverb)

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णुदूतैः: by Vishnu's messengers
• विष्णुदूतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + दूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः दूताः)

• प्रपीडितः: tormented; oppressed
• प्रपीडितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + √पीड् (पीड्/पीडने) → प्रपीडित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि भावः—‘पीडितः’

Speaker

Narrator (Garuda Purana dialogue context: Lord Vishnu instructing Garuda; verse presented as narrative description)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional hymn (stotra) uttered with sincerity summons Viṣṇu’s messengers; divine grace overrides the claim of Death.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) as decisive; nāma/stotra as upāya; protection of the surrendered (śaraṇāgata-rakṣaṇa).

Application: Recite protective stotras in times of fear; cultivate ethical and devotional life so that remembrance of Viṣṇu becomes spontaneous at crisis moments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇudūta vs Yamadūta motifs in Pretakalpa narratives; Mṛtyu-śamana stotra tradition within Purāṇic bhakti sections

Characters & Entities

• Mrityu
• Vishnudutas
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-stotra in Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that sincere recitation/hearing of a Viṣṇu hymn invokes Viṣṇu’s protective agency (Viṣṇudūtas), which can repel the approach of personified Death.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul at the time of death?

It implies that at the death-threshold, spiritual authority can shift: instead of being seized by forces of death, the devotee may be safeguarded by Viṣṇu’s attendants, altering the immediate after-death experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular devotional practice (stotra, nāma-japa, remembrance of Viṣṇu) and cultivate a dharmic life so that the mind is steady and protected when facing illness, fear, and mortality.