Shloka 15

Śālagrāma-lakṣaṇa: Viṣṇu Stotra, Vyūha/Avatāra Identification, and Temple-Fruition

Devanagari script

लग्नद्विचक्रो रक्ताभः पूर्वभागस्तुपुष्कलः / संकर्षणो ऽथ(प्रद्युम्नः) सूक्ष्मचक्रस्तु पीतकः

Transliteration

lagnadvicakro raktābhaḥ pūrvabhāgastupuṣkalaḥ / saṃkarṣaṇo 'tha(pradyumnaḥ) sūkṣmacakrastu pītakaḥ

Translation

جس پر دو چکر کا نشان چسپاں ہے وہ سرخی مائل ہے؛ اس کا اگلا حصہ بھرپور اور وسیع ہے۔ پھر سنکرشن (یا قراءت کے مطابق پردیومن) باریک چکر کے نشان والا اور زرد فام ہے۔

Word by Word

• लग्नद्विचक्रः: the one with two discs affixed
• लग्नद्विचक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लग्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + द्वि (संख्या) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लग्नं द्विचक्रं यस्य)

• रक्ताभः: red-radiant
• रक्ताभः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (रक्तः आभः यस्य)

• पूर्वभागः: the front portion
• पूर्वभागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पूर्वः भागः)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• पुष्कलः: abundant/large
• पुष्कलः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• संकर्षणः: Saṃkarṣaṇa
• संकर्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अथ: then/and next
• अथ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) अनन्तर/क्रमार्थक

• प्रद्युम्नः: Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रद्युम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सूक्ष्मचक्रः: the one with a subtle/small discus
• सूक्ष्मचक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूक्ष्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सूक्ष्मं चक्रं यस्य/सूक्ष्मचक्रः)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) विशेषार्थक

• पीतकः: yellow-colored
• पीतकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Discernment through sacred iconography: recognizing divine manifestations via lakṣaṇas (marks, hues) to stabilize contemplation and correct worship-identification.

Vedantic Theme: Many forms, one reality: differentiated appearances (vyūha/avatāra/arcā) serve as upāyas for the mind; unity is implied beneath variety.

Application: For practitioners of arcā worship or study, learn traditional iconographic cues to focus meditation; use color/mark visualization as a concentration aid.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45.14-15 (Śālagrāma/markings; color and chakra-lakṣaṇa descriptions)

Characters & Entities

• Sankarshana
• Pradyumna
• Chakra

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Saṅkarṣaṇa/Pradyumna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a meditative and iconographic identification of Viṣṇu’s vyūha-forms, using distinguishing marks (cakra) and colors to support recognition in worship and contemplation.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s path or afterlife teachings in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: the Garuda Purana often frames afterlife instruction within devotion to Viṣṇu; identifying divine forms and their marks supports remembrance and bhakti, which the text treats as spiritually protective.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a cue for focused japa or dhyāna: contemplate Viṣṇu’s forms with their distinguishing attributes (cakra) and cultivate steady devotional recollection.