Garuda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 25

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

विष्णवे वासुदेवाय नमः स्थितिकराय च / ग्रसिष्णवे नमश्चैव नमः प्रलयशायिने

Transliteration

viṣṇave vāsudevāya namaḥ sthitikarāya ca / grasiṣṇave namaścaiva namaḥ pralayaśāyine

Translation

顶礼毗湿奴，顶礼婆苏提婆；亦顶礼维系万有、护持宇宙安住者。顶礼于大劫坏灭时吞摄一切者；顶礼于劫尽之际安卧于瑜伽寂定者。

Word by Word

• विष्णवे: to Vishnu
• विष्णवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• वासुदेवाय: to Vasudeva
• वासुदेवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (salutation)

• स्थितिकराय: to the maker of stability (sustainer)
• स्थितिकराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

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

• ग्रसिष्णवे: to the devourer
• ग्रसिष्णवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु) + इष्णु (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: इष्णु-प्रत्ययान्त कृतान्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (salutation)

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

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

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय (salutation)

• प्रलयशायिने: to the one who lies (reposes) at dissolution
• प्रलयशायिने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय + शायिन् (प्रातिपदिक/कृतान्त)
• Form: शायिन्-प्रातिपदिक (from √शी/शय् 'to lie'), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator/recitation voice within the Garuḍa Purāṇa (a devotional salutation-stanza to Lord Viṣṇu, in the broader Viṣṇu–Garuḍa dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The same Supreme governs sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya: sustaining (sthiti-kara), withdrawing (grasishnu), and resting in yogic transcendence.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara as the intelligent cause and regulator; cyclic cosmology under one non-dual sovereign reality.

Application: Contemplate impermanence and stability together; practice remembrance during change/loss, seeing dissolution as part of cosmic order under the same Lord.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean / divine couch

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.24, 1.31.26-28 (stuti sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What is the importance of praising Viṣṇu as Sthitikara and Pralayaśāyī in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

It frames Viṣṇu as both the cosmic sustainer and the Lord present even at dissolution, establishing Him as the ultimate refuge beyond change, fear, and death.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

By emphasizing Viṣṇu’s lordship over maintenance and dissolution, the verse points the listener toward surrender to the timeless Reality that transcends the post-death transitions discussed elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a daily remembrance mantra: cultivate steadiness in life (sthiti) and detachment toward inevitable endings (pralaya), anchoring both in devotion and ethical living.