Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

शालग्रामशिलाद्वारगतलग्नद्विचक्रधृक् / शुक्लाभो(वासुदेवाख्यः) सो ऽव्याद्वः श्रीगदाधरः

Transliteration

śālagrāmaśilādvāragatalagnadvicakradhṛk / śuklābho(vāsudevākhyaḥ) so 'vyādvaḥ śrīgadādharaḥ

Translation

Nguyện Śrī Gadādhara—được gọi là Vāsudeva, rạng ngời sắc trắng, mang hai dấu hiệu bánh xe (cakra) gắn nơi cửa vào của điện thờ đá Śālagrāma—che chở cho các ngươi.

Word by Word

• शालग्रामशिलाद्वारगतलग्नद्विचक्रधृक्: the bearer of the two discs affixed at the doorway of the Śālagrāma-stone
• शालग्रामशिलाद्वारगतलग्नद्विचक्रधृक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + शिला (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (कृदन्त) + लग्न (कृदन्त) + द्वि (संख्या) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक्/धृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः: शालग्राम-शिला-द्वार-गत-लग्न-द्वि-चक्र-धृक् = ‘शालग्रामशिलायाः द्वारे गतं लग्नं द्विचक्रं धारयति’ (धृक् = धृ-धातोः क्विप्)

• शुक्लाभः: white-radiant
• शुक्लाभः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुक्लः आभः यस्य)

• वासुदेवाख्यः: named Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवाख्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वासुदेव इति आख्यः/नाम यस्य)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अव्यात्: may (he) protect
• अव्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आशीर्लिङ्-प्रायः), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; ‘अव्’ = रक्षणे

• वः: you (all)
• वः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/द्वितीया (Genitive/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; अत्र रक्षणकर्मणि कर्मरूपेण (you all)

• श्रीगदाधरः: the glorious bearer of the mace
• श्रीगदाधरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (गदां धरति) + ‘श्री’ उपपद-विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Arcā-upāsanā and rakṣā: the Lord’s presence in Śālagrāma and at thresholds protects devotees; form and symbol (cakra marks) are vehicles of grace.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s immanence (arcā-avatāra) accessible to householders; devotion to a tangible support steadies the mind toward śānti and mokṣa.

Application: Maintain a clean worship-space; if one keeps Śālagrāma, perform respectful daily upacāras; use the verse as a protective prayer at home entrances or before travel.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred river/stone-tirtha (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45 (Śālagrāma-related protective stuti; Vāsudeva/Gadādhara epithets)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Śrī Gadādhara
• Śālagrāma
• Cakra (Sudarśana)

FAQs

What is the importance of Śālagrāma-śilā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Śālagrāma as a direct emblem of Viṣṇu (Vāsudeva/Gadādhara), invoking it as a source of auspicious protection and sanctity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by centering divine protection and devotion to Viṣṇu (Gadādhara/Vāsudeva), it frames dharmic living and worship as supports for spiritual well-being—key themes that later connect to post-death guidance in the Purāṇa.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a reverent worship space (especially for Viṣṇu/Śālagrāma traditions), and use the verse as a protective invocation (rakṣā-prārthanā) to cultivate sattva, discipline, and devotion.