Shloka 14

Śiva’s Narasiṃha-Stotra and the Pacification of the Mātṛgaṇas

Devanagari script

सहस्रयमसंत्रास सहस्रेन्द्रपराक्रम / हसस्त्रधनदस्फीत सहस्रचरणात्मक

Transliteration

sahasrayamasaṃtrāsa sahasrendraparākrama / hasastradhanadasphīta sahasracaraṇātmaka

Translation

وہ ہزار یموں کی مانند ہیبت ناک، ہزار اِندروں کی مانند پرَاکرمی، ہزار کُبیرَوں کی مانند دولت مند، اور ہزار قدموں والے روپ سے یُکت ہے۔

Word by Word

• सहस्रयमसंत्रास: O (one who is) a thousandfold terror to Yama(s)
• सहस्रयमसंत्रास: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + यम + संत्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (यमानां संत्रासः; ‘terror to the Yamas’, with sahasra as intensifier/epithet)

• सहस्रेन्द्रपराक्रम: O one with the prowess of a thousand Indras
• सहस्रेन्द्रपराक्रम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + इन्द्र + पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सहस्र-इन्द्र-पराक्रमः; ‘having the valor of a thousand Indras’)

• हसस्त्रधनदस्फीत: O one abundantly wealthy (like Kubera), thousandfold
• हसस्त्रधनदस्फीत: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (पाठभेद/लिप्यन्तर-दोषः: hasastra≈sahasra) + धनद + स्फीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (धनदेन स्फीतः/धनद-स्फीतः; ‘abundant like Kubera’, with sahasra as intensifier)

• सहस्रचरणात्मक: O one whose nature is of a thousand feet
• सहस्रचरणात्मक: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + चरण + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (चरणैः आत्मा/स्वरूपं यस्य; ‘whose nature is (having) a thousand feet’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord contains and surpasses all functional powers—punishment (Yama), sovereignty (Indra), wealth (Kubera), and cosmic pervasion (thousand feet).

Vedantic Theme: Viśvarūpa/pervasion: all deva-functions are expressions within Īśvara; the One as the ground of many powers.

Application: Relinquish fear of worldly authorities and scarcity by anchoring trust in the highest order; cultivate ethical courage and generosity, seeing resources and power as entrusted by the divine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: repeated framing of Viṣṇu as ultimate refuge beyond Yama’s fear

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Indra
• Kubera (Dhanada)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Yama with 'a thousand' powers in the Garuda Purana?

It amplifies the authority and inevitability of Yama’s justice—death and karmic consequence cannot be escaped by ordinary strength or wealth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

By portraying the overwhelming might of the death-world’s ruler, it sets the psychological and moral context for the preta’s journey: the soul faces karmic governance, not personal preference.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma and restraint—power, status, and wealth do not overrule karma; ethical conduct and proper rites are emphasized over fear.