Shloka 32

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

महात्मा (१८०)मङ्गलो मेयो मन्दरो मन्दरेश्वरः / मेरुर्माता प्रमाणं च माधवो मलवर्जितः

Transliteration

mahātmā (180)maṅgalo meyo mandaro mandareśvaraḥ / merurmātā pramāṇaṃ ca mādhavo malavarjitaḥ

Translation

“（祂是）大魂者（Mahātmā）；吉祥者；可被认识与衡量者；曼陀罗；曼陀罗之主；须弥（Meru）；圣母；真实知见之准绳；摩陀婆（Mādhava）；以及远离一切垢染者。”

Word by Word

• महात्मा: great-souled
• महात्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण/संज्ञावत् (used as epithet/name)

• मङ्गलः: Maṅgala (Mars)
• मङ्गलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• मेयः: measurable/that which is to be measured
• मेयः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मन्दरः: Mandara (mountain/name)
• मन्दरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• मन्दरेश्वरः: lord of Mandara
• मन्दरेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive tatpuruṣa: 'lord of Mandara')

• मेरुः: Meru
• मेरुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• प्रमाणम्: standard/measure, authority
• प्रमाणम्: Karta (Predicate nominal/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (as predicate nominative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• माधवः: Mādhava (name/Viṣṇu)
• माधवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• मलवर्जितः: free from impurity
• मलवर्जितः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मल (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त; √वृज्/वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त (past passive participle))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/नञ्-रहितार्थ (determinative: 'free from impurity'); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue; name-glorification context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is mahātmā, auspicious, the true measure/standard (pramāṇa), stainless (malavarjita), and approachable as Mādhava through nāma-smaraṇa.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman as pramāṇa/prameya ground; nirguṇa purity implied by malavarjita alongside saguna nāma (Mādhava).

Application: Use these epithets as a short stotra for daily japa; contemplate the Lord as inner standard of truth before decisions; cultivate inner cleanliness (śauca) aligned with 'malavarjita'.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred-mountain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.28–32 (nāma/epithet chain; stuti style)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Mandara
• Meru
• Madhava

FAQs

What is the importance of these divine names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a cluster of Vishnu-epithets that praise his auspicious, purifying nature—supporting remembrance/recitation as a means to cleanse inner impurity (mala) and steady devotion.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing the Lord as “pramāṇa” (true standard) and “mala-varjita” (pure), it points to liberation through aligning one’s understanding and conduct with the pure divine reality via devotion and right knowledge.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these names in daily japa or prayer to cultivate auspiciousness and inner cleanliness—pairing recitation with ethical living to reduce mental ‘mala’ such as anger, greed, and deceit.