Shloka 86

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

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

भक्तस्तुतो भक्तपरः कीर्तिदः कीर्तिवर्धनः / कीर्तिर्देप्तिः (५२०) क्षमाकान्तिर्भक्तश्चैव (५३०) दया परा

Transliteration

bhaktastuto bhaktaparaḥ kīrtidaḥ kīrtivardhanaḥ / kīrtirdeptiḥ (520) kṣamākāntirbhaktaścaiva (530) dayā parā

Translation

祂为奉献者所赞颂，亦专注于奉献者；祂赐名声并增长名声。祂自身即名声与辉耀；即忍耐与光明；并且确然是“奉献者”——至上慈悲之化身。

Word by Word

• भक्तस्तुतः: praised by devotees
• भक्तस्तुतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तु (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (स्तु-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः ‘स्तुत’), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भक्तैः स्तुतः)

• भक्तपरः: devoted to devotees
• भक्तपरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भक्तेषु परः = devoted to devotees)

• कीर्तिदः: giver of fame
• कीर्तिदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + द (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (दा-धातोः क्विप्/क्विन्-प्रत्ययान्तः ‘द’), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कीर्तिं ददाति)

• कीर्तिवर्धनः: increaser of fame
• कीर्तिवर्धनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कीर्तिं वर्धयति)

• कीर्तिः: fame
• कीर्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दीप्तिः: splendour
• दीप्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• क्षमाकान्तिः: the radiance/beauty of forgiveness
• क्षमाकान्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (क्षमा एव कान्तिः = the beauty/lustre of forgiveness)

• भक्तः: devotee
• भक्तः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

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

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परा: supreme
• परा: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (दया-विशेषण)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord is bhakta-stuta and bhakta-para (devotee-centered); He grants and increases kīrti; He embodies kīrti, dīpti, kṣamā, kānti, and parā-dayā.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa as divine manifestations; bhakti as reciprocal relationship where grace amplifies virtue and right reputation (kīrti) aligned with dharma.

Application: Engage in kīrtana and praise with humility; seek virtues (forbearance, compassion) as forms of worship; use fame ethically as service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15 (sequence of nāmas emphasizing bhakta-vātsalya and virtues)

FAQs

What is the importance of devotion (bhakti) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Divine as ‘devoted to devotees’ (bhaktaparaḥ) and as the source and sustainer of good repute (kīrtidaḥ, kīrtivardhanaḥ), highlighting bhakti as a direct means to divine grace and upliftment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to the soul’s safe orientation: cultivating devotion, forgiveness (kṣamā), and compassion (dayā) aligns one with the Divine qualities, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as protective merits in life and beyond.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice devotion with humility, protect others’ dignity (right use of speech and reputation), and embody forgiveness and compassion—virtues explicitly praised here as divine attributes to be mirrored in daily conduct.