Shloka 152

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

परमानन्दरूपी च धर्ंमाणां च प्रवर्तकः / सुलभो दुर्लभश्चैव प्राणायामपरस्तथा(९६०)

Transliteration

paramānandarūpī ca dharṃmāṇāṃ ca pravartakaḥ / sulabho durlabhaścaiva prāṇāyāmaparastathā(960)

Translation

Ngài mang hình tướng của niềm an lạc tối thượng, và là Đấng thúc đẩy mọi pháp dharma vận hành. Ngài vừa dễ đạt được mà cũng khó đạt được; đồng thời Ngài được tôn hiển qua kỷ luật prāṇāyāma.

Word by Word

• परमानन्दरूपी: whose nature is supreme bliss
• परमानन्दरूपी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-आनन्द-रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक; परम + आनन्द + रूपिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• धर्माणाम्: of dharmas; of duties/laws
• धर्माणाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रवर्तकः: promoter; initiator
• प्रवर्तकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र+वृत् (धातु) + ण्वुल्/क (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुलभः: easily attainable
• सुलभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुलभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• दुर्लभः: hard to attain
• दुर्लभः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक; दुर् + लभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphasis)

• प्राणायामपरः: devoted to prāṇāyāma
• प्राणायामपरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राणायाम-पर (प्रातिपदिक; प्राणायाम + पर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is paramānanda and the source/impeller of dharma; He is simultaneously accessible (through grace/devotion) and difficult (without purification); prāṇāyāma is honored as a supportive discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Ānanda-svarūpa Brahman; sādhana-catuṣṭaya implied (purity/steadiness); grace-effort polarity (sulabha/durlabha).

Application: Balance devotion with disciplined practice: daily prāṇāyāma (within one’s capacity and guidance), ethical living as dharma-support, and remembrance of the Lord’s nearness without complacency.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.150 (turīya as goal); Garuda Purana 1.15.151 (niyāmaka; protector)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dharma
• Pranayama

FAQs

What is the importance of prāṇāyāma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the Supreme (Vishnu) with prāṇāyāma, implying that disciplined breath-control supports inner purification and steady devotion that lead toward realization.

How can the Lord be both ‘easily attainable’ and ‘difficult to attain’?

He is ‘easy’ for sincere devotion and dharmic living, yet ‘difficult’ for minds bound by distraction, ego, and lack of discipline—hence the emphasis on yogic restraint such as prāṇāyāma.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live by dharma, cultivate daily breath-discipline (prāṇāyāma) with steadiness, and pair it with devotion and ethical conduct to make spiritual progress consistent and grounded.