The Characteristics of Shalagrama Forms

Verse 1 (garuda.1.45.1)

।।हरिरुवाच ।। प्रसङ्गात्कथयिष्यामि शालग्रामस्य लक्षणम् ।। शालग्रामशिलास्पर्शात्कोटिजन्माघनाशनम्

..hariruvāca .. prasaṅgātkathayiṣyāmi śālagrāmasya lakṣaṇam .. śālagrāmaśilāsparśātkoṭijanmāghanāśanam

Hari said: In this connection I shall now describe the characteristics of the shalagrama stone. By the mere touch of a shalagrama stone, the sins of a crore of births are destroyed.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.45.2)

शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मी (हस्तः) (केशवाख्यो) गदाधरः ।। सब्जकौमादकीचक्रशङ्खी (नारायणो) विभुः

śaṅkhacakragadāpadmī (hastaḥ) (keśavākhyo) gadādharaḥ .. sabjakaumādakīcakraśaṅkhī (nārāyaṇo) vibhuḥ

One whose hands hold, in order, conch, discus, mace, and lotus is Keshava, the mace-bearer. One holding lotus, the Kaumodaki mace, discus, and conch is the all-pervading Narayana.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.45.3)

सचक्रशङ्खाब्जगदो (माधवः) श्रीगदाधरः ।। गदब्जशङ्खचक्री वा (गोविन्दो)ऽर्च्यो गदाधरः

sacakraśaṅkhābjagado (mādhavaḥ) śrīgadādharaḥ .. gadabjaśaṅkhacakrī vā (govindo)'rcyo gadādharaḥ

One holding discus, conch, lotus, and mace is the glorious Madhava, the mace-bearer. One holding mace, lotus, conch, and discus is the worshipful Govinda.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.45.4)

पद्मशङ्खारिगादिने (विष्णुरूपाय) ते नमः ।। सशङ्खाब्जगदाचक्र (मधुसूदनमूर्त्तये)

padmaśaṅkhārigādine (viṣṇurūpāya) te namaḥ .. saśaṅkhābjagadācakra (madhusūdanamūrttaye)

Homage to the form of Vishnu, who holds lotus, conch, discus, and mace. To the form of Madhusudana, endowed with conch, lotus, mace, and discus.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.45.5)

नमो गदारिशङ्खाब्जयुक्त(त्रैविक्रमाय) च ।। सारिकौमोदकीपद्मशङ्ख(वामनमूर्त्तये)

namo gadāriśaṅkhābjayukta(traivikramāya) ca .. sārikaumodakīpadmaśaṅkha(vāmanamūrttaye)

Homage to Trivikrama, endowed with mace, discus, conch, and lotus. To the form of Vamana, holding discus, the Kaumodaki mace, lotus, and conch.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.45.6)

चक्राब्जशङ्खगादिने नमः (श्रीधरमूर्त्तये) ।। (हृषीकेशाया)ऽब्जगदाशङ्खिने चक्रिणे नमः

cakrābjaśaṅkhagādine namaḥ (śrīdharamūrttaye) .. (hṛṣīkeśāyā)'bjagadāśaṅkhine cakriṇe namaḥ

Homage to Shridhara, who holds discus, lotus, conch, and mace. Homage to discus-bearing Hrishikesha, holding lotus, mace, conch, and discus.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.45.7)

साब्जचक्रगदाशङ्ख(पद्मनाभस्वरूपिणे) ।। शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मिन् (दामोदर) मनोनमः

sābjacakragadāśaṅkha(padmanābhasvarūpiṇe) .. śaṅkhacakragadāpadmin (dāmodara) manonamaḥ

To the very form of Padmanabha, endowed with lotus, discus, mace, and conch. My mind's homage to Damodara, who holds conch, discus, mace, and lotus.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.45.8)

सारिशङ्खगदाब्जाय (वासुदेवाय) वै नमः ।। शङ्खाब्जचक्रगादिने नमः (सङ्कर्षणाय) च

sāriśaṅkhagadābjāya (vāsudevāya) vai namaḥ .. śaṅkhābjacakragādine namaḥ (saṅkarṣaṇāya) ca

Homage indeed to Vasudeva, endowed with discus, conch, mace, and lotus. And homage to Sankarshana, holding conch, lotus, discus, and mace.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.45.9)

सुशङ्खसुगदाब्जारिधृते (प्रद्युम्नमूर्त्तये) ।। नमो(ऽनिरुद्धाय) गदाशङ्खाब्जारीविधारिणे

suśaṅkhasugadābjāridhṛte (pradyumnamūrttaye) .. namo('niruddhāya) gadāśaṅkhābjārīvidhāriṇe

To the form of Pradyumna, bearing a fine conch, fine mace, lotus, and discus. Homage to Aniruddha, who bears mace, conch, lotus, and discus.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.45.10)

साब्जशङ्खगदाचक्र(पुरुषोत्तममूर्त्तये) ।। नमो(ऽधोक्षजरूपाय) गदाशङ्खारिपद्मिने

sābjaśaṅkhagadācakra(puruṣottamamūrttaye) .. namo('dhokṣajarūpāya) gadāśaṅkhāripadmine

To the form of Purushottama, endowed with lotus, conch, mace, and discus. Homage to the form of Adhokshaja, holding mace, conch, discus, and lotus.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.45.11)

(नृसिंहमूर्त्तये) पद्मगदाशङ्खारिधारिणे ।। पद्मारिशङ्खगदिने नमोऽ(स्त्वच्युतमूर्त्तये)

(nṛsiṁhamūrttaye) padmagadāśaṅkhāridhāriṇe .. padmāriśaṅkhagadine namo'(stvacyutamūrttaye)

To the form of Narasimha, bearing lotus, mace, conch, and discus. Homage be to the form of Achyuta, who holds lotus, discus, conch, and mace.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.45.12)

सशङ्कचक्राब्जगदं (जनार्दन) मिहानये ।। (उपेंद्रः) सगदः सारिः पद्मशङ्खिन्नमोनमः

saśaṅkacakrābjagadaṁ (janārdana) mihānaye .. (upeṁdraḥ) sagadaḥ sāriḥ padmaśaṅkhinnamonamaḥ

With conch, discus, lotus, and mace, I invoke here Janardana. To Upendra, bearer of mace, discus, lotus, and conch, homage again and again.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.45.13)

सुचक्राब्जगदाशङ्खयुक्ताय (हरिमूर्त्तये) ।। सगदाब्जारिशङ्खाय नमः (श्रीकृष्णमूर्त्तये)

sucakrābjagadāśaṅkhayuktāya (harimūrttaye) .. sagadābjāriśaṅkhāya namaḥ (śrīkṛṣṇamūrttaye)

To the form of Hari, endowed with fine discus, lotus, mace, and conch. Homage to the form of Shri Krishna, who holds mace, lotus, discus, and conch.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.45.14)

शालग्रामशिलाद्वारगतलग्नद्विचक्रधृक् ।। शुक्लाभो(वासुदेवाख्यः) सोऽव्याद्वः श्रीगदाधरः

śālagrāmaśilādvāragatalagnadvicakradhṛk .. śuklābho(vāsudevākhyaḥ) so'vyādvaḥ śrīgadādharaḥ

The shalagrama stone bearing two discus-marks set at its opening, white in luster, named Vasudeva, that glorious mace-bearing stone — may it protect you.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.45.15)

लग्नद्विचक्रो रक्ताभः पूर्वभागस्तुपुष्कलः ।। संकर्षणोऽथ(प्रद्युम्नः) सूक्ष्मचक्रस्तु पीतकः

lagnadvicakro raktābhaḥ pūrvabhāgastupuṣkalaḥ .. saṁkarṣaṇo'tha(pradyumnaḥ) sūkṣmacakrastu pītakaḥ

That with two adjoining chakras, reddish in hue, full at its front part, is Sankarshana; and that with a fine, subtle chakra, yellowish, is Pradyumna.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.45.16)

स दीर्घः सशिरश्छिद्रो यो(ऽनिरुद्धस्तु) वर्तुलः ।। नीलो द्वारि त्रिरेखश्च अथ (नारायणो)ऽसितः

sa dīrghaḥ saśiraśchidro yo('niruddhastu) vartulaḥ .. nīlo dvāri trirekhaśca atha (nārāyaṇo)'sitaḥ

That which is long, with a hole at its crown, is Aniruddha; the round one, blue, with three lines at its opening, is dark-hued Narayana.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.45.17)

मध्ये गादकृती रेखा नाभिचक्रो (क्र) महोन्नतः ।। पृथुवक्षा (नृसिंहो) वः कपिलोऽव्यात्त्रिबिन्दुकः

madhye gādakṛtī rekhā nābhicakro (kra) mahonnataḥ .. pṛthuvakṣā (nṛsiṁho) vaḥ kapilo'vyāttribindukaḥ

That with a mace-shaped line in the middle and the navel-chakra raised in sequence — broad-chested, tawny-hued, marked with three dots — may that Narasimha protect you.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.45.18)

अथवा पञ्चबिन्दुस्तत्पूजनं ब्रह्मचारिणः ।। (वराहः) शक्तिलिङ्गोऽव्याद्विषमद्वयचक्रकः

athavā pañcabindustatpūjanaṁ brahmacāriṇaḥ .. (varāhaḥ) śaktiliṅgo'vyādviṣamadvayacakrakaḥ

Or that with five dots — its worship belongs to the celibate. May Varaha, in the form of a shakti-emblem, marked with two uneven chakras, protect you.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.45.19)

नीलस्त्रिरेखः स्थूलोऽथ (कूर्ममूर्त्तिः स बिन्दुमान् ।। (कृष्णः) स वर्त्तुलावर्त्तः पातु वो नतपृष्ठकः

nīlastrirekhaḥ sthūlo'tha (kūrmamūrttiḥ sa bindumān .. (kṛṣṇaḥ) sa varttulāvarttaḥ pātu vo natapṛṣṭhakaḥ

Blue, three-lined, and stout — that, marked with a dot, is the form of Kurma. May round, whorled Krishna, with a low-bent back, protect you.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.45.20)

(श्रीधरः) पञ्चरेखोऽव्या (द्वनमाली) गादाङ्कितः ।। (वामनो) वर्त्तुलो ह्रस्वो वा (रा) मचक्रः सुरेश्वरः

(śrīdharaḥ) pañcarekho'vyā (dvanamālī) gādāṅkitaḥ .. (vāmano) varttulo hrasvo vā (rā) macakraḥ sureśvaraḥ

May five-lined Shridhara, garlanded with the forest-garland and marked with a mace, protect you. Round and short is Vamana; or the Lord of gods marked with Rama's discus.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.45.21)

नानावर्णोऽनेकमूर्त्तिर्नागभोगी (त्वनन्तकः) ।। स्थूलो (दामोदरो) नीलो मध्येवक्रः सुनीलकः

nānāvarṇo'nekamūrttirnāgabhogī (tvanantakaḥ) .. sthūlo (dāmodaro) nīlo madhyevakraḥ sunīlakaḥ

Of many colors, of many forms, coiled like a serpent — that is Ananta. Stout, blue, curved in the middle, deep blue — that is Damodara.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.45.22)

सङ्कीर्णद्वारकः सोऽव्यादथ ब्रह्मा सुलोहितः ।। सदीर्घरेखः सुषिर एकचक्राम्बुजः पृथुः

saṅkīrṇadvārakaḥ so'vyādatha brahmā sulohitaḥ .. sadīrgharekhaḥ suṣira ekacakrāmbujaḥ pṛthuḥ

May the one with a complex opening protect you; and Brahma is deep red, with a long line, hollow, broad, marked with a single chakra and a lotus.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.45.23)

पृथुच्छिद्रः स्थूलचक्रः(कृष्णो) (विष्णुश्च) बिल्ववत् ।। (हयग्रीवो) ऽङ्कुशाकारः पञ्चरेखः सकौस्तुभः

pṛthucchidraḥ sthūlacakraḥ(kṛṣṇo) (viṣṇuśca) bilvavat .. (hayagrīvo) 'ṅkuśākāraḥ pañcarekhaḥ sakaustubhaḥ

Broad-holed, with a stout chakra — that is Krishna; and shaped like a bilva fruit — that is Vishnu. Shaped like a goad, with five lines, marked with the Kaustubha — that is Hayagriva.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.45.24)

(वैकुण्ठो मणिरत्नाभ एकचक्राम्बुजोऽसितः ।। (मत्स्यो) दीर्घोऽम्बुजाकारो द्वाररेखश्च पातु वः

(vaikuṇṭho maṇiratnābha ekacakrāmbujo'sitaḥ .. (matsyo) dīrgho'mbujākāro dvārarekhaśca pātu vaḥ

Gem-like in luster, marked with a single chakra and a lotus, dark-hued — that is Vaikuntha. May Matsya, long, lotus-shaped, with a line at its opening, protect you.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.45.25)

रामचक्रो दक्षरेखः श्यामोवोऽव्या (त्त्रिविक्रमः) ।। शालग्रामे द्वारकायां स्थिताय गदिने नमः

rāmacakro dakṣarekhaḥ śyāmovo'vyā (ttrivikramaḥ) .. śālagrāme dvārakāyāṁ sthitāya gadine namaḥ

May Trivikrama, marked with Rama's discus, with a line on its right side, dark-hued, protect you. Homage to the mace-bearer abiding in the shalagrama stone at Dvaraka.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.45.26)

एकद्वारश्चतुश्चक्रो वनमालाविभूषितः ।। स्वर्णरेखासमायुक्तो गोष्पदेन विराजितः

ekadvāraścatuścakro vanamālāvibhūṣitaḥ .. svarṇarekhāsamāyukto goṣpadena virājitaḥ

That with a single opening and four chakras, adorned with the forest-garland, marked with a golden line, resplendent with the mark of a cow's hoof —

Verse 27 (garuda.1.45.27)

कदम्बकुसुमाकारो (लक्ष्मीनारायणो)ऽवतु ।। एकेन लक्षितो योव्याद्रदाधारी (सुदर्शनः)

kadambakusumākāro (lakṣmīnārāyaṇo)'vatu .. ekena lakṣito yovyādradādhārī (sudarśanaḥ)

shaped like a kadamba blossom — may that be Lakshmi-Narayana, and protect you. May the one marked by a single chakra, the mace-bearer, be Sudarshana, and protect you.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.45.28)

(लक्ष्मीनारायणो) द्वाभ्यांत्रिभिर्मूर्त्ति(स्त्रिविक्रमः) ।। चतुर्भिश्च (चतुर्व्यूहो) (वासुदेवश्च) पञ्चभिः

(lakṣmīnārāyaṇo) dvābhyāṁtribhirmūrtti(strivikramaḥ) .. caturbhiśca (caturvyūho) (vāsudevaśca) pañcabhiḥ

A stone with two chakras is Lakshmi-Narayana; with three, the form is Trivikrama; with four, it is the Chaturvyuha; and with five, it is Vasudeva.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.45.29)

(प्रद्युम्नः) षडूभिरेव स्यात् (संकर्षण) इतस्ततः ।। (पुरुषोत्तमो)ऽष्टभिः स्या(न्नवव्यूहो) नवांकितः

(pradyumnaḥ) ṣaḍūbhireva syāt (saṁkarṣaṇa) itastataḥ .. (puruṣottamo)'ṣṭabhiḥ syā(nnavavyūho) navāṁkitaḥ

With six, it is Pradyumna; here and there it may also be Sankarshana; with eight, it is Purushottama; marked with nine, it is the Navavyuha.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.45.30)

(दशावतारो) दशभिरनिरुद्धोऽवतादथ ।। (द्वादशात्मा) द्वादशबिरत ऊर्द्ध्व(मनन्तकः)

(daśāvatāro) daśabhiraniruddho'vatādatha .. (dvādaśātmā) dvādaśabirata ūrddhva(manantakaḥ)

With ten, it is the Dashavatara; beyond that may Aniruddha protect you; with twelve, it is the Dvadashatma; beyond this, it is Ananta.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.45.31)

विष्णोर्मूर्त्तिमयं स्तोत्रं यः पठेत्स दिवं व्रजेत् ।। (ब्रह्मा) चतुर्मुखो दण्डी कमण्डलुयुगान्वितः

viṣṇormūrttimayaṁ stotraṁ yaḥ paṭhetsa divaṁ vrajet .. (brahmā) caturmukho daṇḍī kamaṇḍaluyugānvitaḥ

Whoever recites this hymn embodying the forms of Vishnu goes to heaven. Brahma is four-faced, staff-bearing, furnished with a pair of water-pots;

Verse 32 (garuda.1.45.32)

(महेश्वरः) प्रञ्चवक्रो दशबाहुर्वृषध्वजः ।। यथायुधस्तथा गौरी चण्डिका च सरस्वती

(maheśvaraḥ) prañcavakro daśabāhurvṛṣadhvajaḥ .. yathāyudhastathā gaurī caṇḍikā ca sarasvatī

Maheshvara is five-faced, ten-armed, bull-bannered; just as each has his own weapons, so too do Gauri, Chandika, and Sarasvati have theirs.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.45.33)

महालक्ष्मीर्मातरश्च पद्महस्तो (दिवाकरः) ।। गजास्यश्च गणः स्कन्दः षण्मुखोनेकधा गुणाः

mahālakṣmīrmātaraśca padmahasto (divākaraḥ) .. gajāsyaśca gaṇaḥ skandaḥ ṣaṇmukhonekadhā guṇāḥ

Mahalakshmi and the Mother-goddesses, the lotus-handed Sun, the elephant-faced Ganapati, and six-faced Skanda — the attributes of all these are of many kinds.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.45.34)

एतेऽर्चिताः स्थापिताश्च प्रासादे वास्तुपूजिते ।। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाद्याः प्राप्यन्ते पुरुषेण च

ete'rcitāḥ sthāpitāśca prāsāde vāstupūjite .. dharmārthakāmamokṣādyāḥ prāpyante puruṣeṇa ca

When these are worshipped and installed in a temple whose site has been duly consecrated, dharma, artha, kama, moksha, and the rest are attained by a person.