Shloka 17

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

नमस्ते नागदर्पघ्न विनतानन्दवर्धन / सुपक्षपात निद्दभ दीनदैत्यनिरीक्षित

Transliteration

namaste nāgadarpaghna vinatānandavardhana / supakṣapāta niddabha dīnadaityanirīkṣita

Translation

اے ناگوں کے غرور کو کچلنے والے، اے وِنَتا کی خوشی بڑھانے والے! اے مضبوط پروں والے، یلغار میں ناقابلِ روک! جنہیں کمزور دَیت بھی خوف سے دیکھتے ہیں— آپ کو سلام۔

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नमस्कारार्थ-शब्द

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन (ते = 'to you')

• नागदर्पघ्न: O slayer of the serpents' pride
• नागदर्पघ्न: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga + darpa + ghna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नागानां दर्पं हन्ति इति = 'slayer of the pride of serpents')

• विनतानन्दवर्धन: O increaser of Vinatā's joy
• विनतानन्दवर्धन: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinatā + ānanda + vardhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विनतायाः आनन्दं वर्धयति = 'increaser of Vinatā’s joy')

• सुपक्षपात: O one with splendid wings/wing-beat
• सुपक्षपात: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + pakṣa + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु-पक्षः पातः/पातनम् यस्य/यत्र = 'having excellent wings/wing-beat')

• निद्दभ: O humble one (without pride)
• निद्दभ: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niddabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; पाठभेद-सम्भावना: निर्दभ/निर्दम्भ (humble/without arrogance)

• दीनदैत्यनिरीक्षित: O one who has beheld the wretched demons / whom the wretched demons have seen
• दीनदैत्यनिरीक्षित: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīna + daitya + nirīkṣita (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (दीनान् दैत्यान् निरीक्षते/निरीक्षितवान् = 'one who has looked upon/observed the wretched demons' अथवा 'seen by the wretched demons')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protective stuti through nāma/epithet-chaining: invoking Garuḍa’s qualities (nāga-darpa-ghna, vinatānanda-vardhana) to awaken courage and divine shelter.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-smaraṇa and guṇa-kīrtana as bhakti; the Lord’s order upheld through empowered agents.

Application: Use focused epithets in prayer to cultivate steadiness and fearlessness; honor gratitude to benefactors (Vinatā’s joy) and humility before dharmic power.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: protective praises of Garuḍa against serpents/poison and fear (general internal thematic link).

Characters & Entities

• Nagas
• Vinata
• Daityas
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Garuda in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Garuḍa as a dharmic protector—one whose power subdues hostile forces (Nāgas and Dāityas) and whose devotion supports Viṣṇu’s cosmic order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it establishes Garuḍa’s protective, fear-dispelling stature—an auspicious preface in the Purāṇic dialogue that later turns to death, afterlife, and dharma, where divine protection and right conduct are emphasized.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate humility and disciplined strength: let pride be “slain” (like nāga-darpa) through devotion, self-control, and protection of the vulnerable—core dharmic virtues echoed throughout the Garuḍa Purāṇa.