The Praises of Vishnu by Lakshmi, Brahma, Vayu, and Sarasvati

Verse 1 (garuda.2.55.1)

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच । तत्रतत्र स्थितास्तत्त्वे तत्तत्तत्त्वाभिमानिनः । स्वेस्वे ह्यायतने स्वाङ्गे तदर्थं च खगेश्वर

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca tatratatra sthitāstattve tattattattvābhimāninaḥ svesve hyāyatane svāṅge tadarthaṁ ca khageśvara

Shri Krishna said: O lord of birds, those deities presiding over each of those principles, each abiding in his own seat, in his own form, and for that very purpose,

Verse 2 (garuda.2.55.2)

हरिं नारायणं सम्यक्स्तोतुं समुपचक्रिरे । चिन्त्याचिन्त्यगुणे विष्णौ विरुद्धाः संति सद्गुणाः

hariṁ nārāyaṇaṁ samyakstotuṁ samupacakrire cintyācintyaguṇe viṣṇau viruddhāḥ saṁti sadguṇāḥ

set out to praise Hari Narayana properly. In Vishnu, whose qualities are both conceivable and inconceivable, virtues that seem mutually opposed to one another all coexist.

Verse 3 (garuda.2.55.3)

एकैकशोह्यनन्तास्ते तद्गुणानां स्तुतौ मम । क्व शक्तिरिति बुद्ध्या सा व्रीडयावनताब्रवीत्

ekaikaśohyanantāste tadguṇānāṁ stutau mama kva śaktiriti buddhyā sā vrīḍayāvanatābravīt

Even taken one by one, his qualities are endless; thinking, 'what power have I to praise them,' Lakshmi, bowed low in modesty, spoke.

Verse 4 (garuda.2.55.4)

श्रीरुवाच । नतास्मि ते नाथ पदारविन्दं न वेद चान्यच्चरणादृते तव । त्वयीश्वरे संति गुणाः श्रुतास्तु तथाश्रुताः संति च देवदेव

śrīruvāca natāsmi te nātha padāravindaṁ na veda cānyaccaraṇādṛte tava tvayīśvare saṁti guṇāḥ śrutāstu tathāśrutāḥ saṁti ca devadeva

Shri said: I bow, O Lord, to your lotus feet; apart from your feet I know nothing else. O god of gods, in you, the Ruler, there exist qualities that have been heard of, and just as many that have never been heard.

Verse 5 (garuda.2.55.5)

सम्यक्सृष्टं स्वायतनं च दत्वा गोविन्द दामोदर मां च पाहि । स्तुत्या मदीयश्च सुखकपूर्णः प्रियो जनो नास्ति तथा त्वदन्यः

samyaksṛṣṭaṁ svāyatanaṁ ca datvā govinda dāmodara māṁ ca pāhi stutyā madīyaśca sukhakapūrṇaḥ priyo jano nāsti tathā tvadanyaḥ

O Govinda, O Damodara, having granted me my own well-fashioned abode, protect me. There is no other soul so dear, so filled with happiness through praising you, as I am.

Verse 6 (garuda.2.55.6)

ब्रह्मोवाच । लक्ष्मीपते सर्वजगन्निवास त्वं ज्ञानसिंधुः क्व च विश्वमूर्ते । अहं क्व चाज्ञस्तव वै शक्तिरस्ति ह्यज्ञोहं वै ह्यल्पशक्तिर्ममास्ति

brahmovāca lakṣmīpate sarvajagannivāsa tvaṁ jñānasiṁdhuḥ kva ca viśvamūrte ahaṁ kva cājñastava vai śaktirasti hyajñohaṁ vai hyalpaśaktirmamāsti

Brahma said: O Lord of Lakshmi, O abode of the entire universe, you are an ocean of knowledge — where are you, O form of the cosmos, and where am I? I am ignorant; whatever power is yours, mine is only the slightest fraction.

Verse 7 (garuda.2.55.7)

लक्ष्म्याश्चैव ज्ञानवैराग्यभक्ति ह्यत्यल्पमद्धा मयि सर्वदैव । तव प्रसादादस्ति जगन्निवास तत्र स्वामित्वं नास्ति विष्णो सदैव

lakṣmyāścaiva jñānavairāgyabhakti hyatyalpamaddhā mayi sarvadaiva tava prasādādasti jagannivāsa tatra svāmitvaṁ nāsti viṣṇo sadaiva

Even the knowledge, dispassion, and devotion of Lakshmi exist in me only in the barest measure, ever. O abode of the world, whatever is in me is by your grace alone; O Vishnu, over it I hold no ownership whatsoever.

Verse 8 (garuda.2.55.8)

न देहि त्वं सर्वदा मे मुरारे अहंममत्वं प्राप्यमेतावदेव । गम्यज्ञानं योग्यगुणे रमेश प्रमादो वा नास्तिनास्त्यद्य नित्य

na dehi tvaṁ sarvadā me murāre ahaṁmamatvaṁ prāpyametāvadeva gamyajñānaṁ yogyaguṇe rameśa pramādo vā nāstināstyadya nitya

O Murari, never give me the sense of 'I' and 'mine' — that alone is the boon I need. O lord of Rama, even the understanding of what is fitting comes from you; let there be no lapse in this, now or ever.

Verse 9 (garuda.2.55.9)

तन्मे हृषीकाणि पतन्त्यसत्पथे पदारविन्दे तु पतन्तु सर्वदा । लक्ष्म्या ह्यहं कोटिगुणेन हीनः स्तोतुं सामर्थ्यं नास्ति मे सुप्रसीद

tanme hṛṣīkāṇi patantyasatpathe padāravinde tu patantu sarvadā lakṣmyā hyahaṁ koṭiguṇena hīnaḥ stotuṁ sāmarthyaṁ nāsti me suprasīda

May these senses of mine not fall upon a wrong path, but ever fall upon your lotus feet alone. I am lesser than Lakshmi by a million measures; I have no capacity to praise you — be gracious to me, my Lord.

Verse 10 (garuda.2.55.10)

इति स्तवं विष्णुगुणान्विधाता तार्क्ष्यस्थितः प्राञ्जलिस्तस्य चाग्रे । तदा वायुर्देवदेवो महात्मा दृष्ट्वा विष्णु भक्तिसंवर्धितात्मा

iti stavaṁ viṣṇuguṇānvidhātā tārkṣyasthitaḥ prāñjalistasya cāgre tadā vāyurdevadevo mahātmā dṛṣṭvā viṣṇu bhaktisaṁvardhitātmā

Thus did the Creator praise the qualities of Vishnu, standing before Hari seated on Garuda, with folded hands. Then the great-souled Vayu, god of gods, his soul swelling with devotion, beheld this.

Verse 11 (garuda.2.55.11)

स्नहोत्थरावः स्खलिताक्षरस्तं मुञ्चन्कणान्प्राञ्जलिराबभाषे । वायुरुवाच । एते हि देवास्तव भृत्यभूताः पदारविन्दं परमं सुदुर्लभम्

snahottharāvaḥ skhalitākṣarastaṁ muñcankaṇānprāñjalirābabhāṣe vāyuruvāca ete hi devāstava bhṛtyabhūtāḥ padāravindaṁ paramaṁ sudurlabham

His voice broken and choked with the surge of affection, shedding tears, hands folded, Vayu spoke: Vayu said: O god, all these deities are your servants; your lotus feet, supremely difficult to attain —

Verse 12 (garuda.2.55.12)

चतुर्विधान्पुरुषार्थान्रमेश संप्रार्थये तच्च सदापि देव । दृष्ट्वा हरेः सैव मायैव तावत्सुकारणं किञ्चिदन्यन्न चास्ति

caturvidhānpuruṣārthānrameśa saṁprārthaye tacca sadāpi deva dṛṣṭvā hareḥ saiva māyaiva tāvatsukāraṇaṁ kiñcidanyanna cāsti

O lord of Rama, I ever pray for the four aims of human life. It is only by beholding Hari's own maya that any of this is accomplished; there exists no other true cause apart from that.

Verse 13 (garuda.2.55.13)

अतो नाहं प्रदयोपि भूमन् भवत्पदांभोजनिषवणोत्सुकः । लोकस्य कृष्णाद्विमुखस्य कर्मणा अपुण्यशीलस्य सुदुः खितस्य

ato nāhaṁ pradayopi bhūman bhavatpadāṁbhojaniṣavaṇotsukaḥ lokasya kṛṣṇādvimukhasya karmaṇā apuṇyaśīlasya suduḥ khitasya

Therefore, O infinite one, though without means of my own, I remain eager for the service of your lotus feet, for the sake of this world — turned away from Krishna, given to evil deeds, unrighteous, and sorely afflicted,

Verse 14 (garuda.2.55.14)

अनुग्रहार्थं च तवावतारो नान्यश्च किञ्चित्पुरुषार्थस्तवेश । गोभूसुराणां च महीरुहाणां तथा सुराणां प्रवरावतारैः

anugrahārthaṁ ca tavāvatāro nānyaśca kiñcitpuruṣārthastaveśa gobhūsurāṇāṁ ca mahīruhāṇāṁ tathā surāṇāṁ pravarāvatāraiḥ

your incarnation exists only for the sake of grace, O Lord; you have no other purpose of your own. Through your incarnations for the sake of cows, brahmins, trees, and the foremost of the gods —

Verse 15 (garuda.2.55.15)

क्षेमोपकाराणि च वासुदेव क्रीडन्विधत्ते न च किञ्चिदन्यत् । मनो न तृप्यत्यपि शंसतां नः सुकर्ममौलेश्चरितामृतानि

kṣemopakārāṇi ca vāsudeva krīḍanvidhatte na ca kiñcidanyat mano na tṛpyatyapi śaṁsatāṁ naḥ sukarmamauleścaritāmṛtāni

O Vasudeva, at play alone you accomplish the world's welfare and benefit, and nothing else besides. Even as we sing of it, our minds are never sated by the nectar of your auspicious deeds.

Verse 16 (garuda.2.55.16)

अच्छिन्नभक्तस्य हि मे मुकुन्द सदा भक्तिं देहि पादारविन्दे । सदा तदेवास्तु न किञ्चिदन्यद्यत्र त्वमासीः पुरुषे देवदेव

acchinnabhaktasya hi me mukunda sadā bhaktiṁ dehi pādāravinde sadā tadevāstu na kiñcidanyadyatra tvamāsīḥ puruṣe devadeva

O Mukunda, grant unbroken devotion at your lotus feet to me, your unfailing devotee. O god of gods, let it be this alone, ever, and nothing else — wherever you dwell within a person,

Verse 17 (garuda.2.55.17)

अहं च तत्रास्मि तव प्रसादाद्यत्रास्म्यहं तत्र भवान्महाप्रभो । व्यंसिर्ममेयं च शरीरमध्ये चतुर्मुखश्चैव न चैततदन्यैः

ahaṁ ca tatrāsmi tava prasādādyatrāsmyahaṁ tatra bhavānmahāprabho vyaṁsirmameyaṁ ca śarīramadhye caturmukhaścaiva na caitatadanyaiḥ

there, by your grace, I too am present, wherever you are, O great Lord. This four-faced form dwells within me, and this is not the case for any other.

Verse 18 (garuda.2.55.18)

मदीयनिद्रा तव वन्दनं प्रभो मदीययामाचरणं प्रदक्षिणम् । मदीयव्याख्याहरणं स्तुतिः स्यादेवं विदित्वा च समर्पयामि

madīyanidrā tava vandanaṁ prabho madīyayāmācaraṇaṁ pradakṣiṇam madīyavyākhyāharaṇaṁ stutiḥ syādevaṁ viditvā ca samarpayāmi

My very sleep, O Lord, is your worship; my movement is circumambulation of you; my every utterance is your praise — knowing this, I offer all of it to you.

Verse 19 (garuda.2.55.19)

मद्वृद्धियोग्यं च पदार्थजातं दृष्ट्वा हरेः प्रतिमा एव तच्च । इत्थं मत्वाहं सर्वदा देवदेव तत्रस्थितान्हरिरूपान् भजिष्ये

madvṛddhiyogyaṁ ca padārthajātaṁ dṛṣṭvā hareḥ pratimā eva tacca itthaṁ matvāhaṁ sarvadā devadeva tatrasthitānharirūpān bhajiṣye

Whatever collection of things serves my growth, I regard as none other than a form of Hari; thus understanding, O god of gods, I shall ever worship the forms of Hari present in them.

Verse 20 (garuda.2.55.20)

यच्चन्दनं यत्तु पुष्पं च धूपं वस्त्रं च यद्भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकं च । एतत्सर्वं विष्णुप्रीत्यर्थमेवेत्येतद्व्रतं सर्वदा वै करिष्ये

yaccandanaṁ yattu puṣpaṁ ca dhūpaṁ vastraṁ ca yadbhakṣyabhojyādikaṁ ca etatsarvaṁ viṣṇuprītyarthamevetyetadvrataṁ sarvadā vai kariṣye

Whatever sandal-paste, flower, incense, garment, or food I offer — all of this is for Vishnu's pleasure alone; this vow I shall keep forever.

Verse 21 (garuda.2.55.21)

अवैष्णवान्दूषयिष्ये सदाहं सद्वैष्णवान्पा(ल्लां)लयिष्ये मुरारे । विष्णुद्रुहां छेदयिष्ये च जिह्वां तच्छृण्वतां पूरयिष्ये त्रपूल्काः

avaiṣṇavāndūṣayiṣye sadāhaṁ sadvaiṣṇavānpā(llāṁ)layiṣye murāre viṣṇudruhāṁ chedayiṣye ca jihvāṁ tacchṛṇvatāṁ pūrayiṣye trapūlkāḥ

O Murari, I shall ever censure the unfaithful and cherish the true Vaishnavas; I shall cut out the tongues of those who blaspheme Vishnu, and pour molten lead into the ears of those who listen to it.

Verse 22 (garuda.2.55.22)

एतादृशी शक्तिर्ममास्ति देव तव प्रसादाद्बलिनोपि विष्णो । अथापि नाहं स्तवने समर्थः लक्ष्म्या ह्यहं कोटिगुणैर्विहीनः

etādṛśī śaktirmamāsti deva tava prasādādbalinopi viṣṇo athāpi nāhaṁ stavane samarthaḥ lakṣmyā hyahaṁ koṭiguṇairvihīnaḥ

Such power, O god, is mine by your grace, O Vishnu, mightiest among the mighty; and yet I am not equal to praising you — I fall short of Lakshmi by a million measures.

Verse 23 (garuda.2.55.23)

एतत्स्तोत्रं ह्यर्थयेच्चैव या नः तत्र प्रीतिर्ह्यक्षया मे सदा स्यात् । स्तोत्रं ह्येतत्पाठयन्तीह लोके ते वैष्णवास्ते च हरिप्रियाश्च

etatstotraṁ hyarthayeccaiva yā naḥ tatra prītirhyakṣayā me sadā syāt stotraṁ hyetatpāṭhayantīha loke te vaiṣṇavāste ca haripriyāśca

Whoever prays with this hymn shall receive my unfailing affection forever. Those who recite this hymn in this world shall be true Vaishnavas, dear to Hari.

Verse 24 (garuda.2.55.24)

कुर्वन्ति ये पठनं नित्यमेव समर्पयिष्यति सदा हरौ च । तेषां हरिः प्रीयते केशवोलं हरौ प्रसन्ने किमलभ्यमस्ति

kurvanti ye paṭhanaṁ nityameva samarpayiṣyati sadā harau ca teṣāṁ hariḥ prīyate keśavolaṁ harau prasanne kimalabhyamasti

Those who make its recitation their constant practice and ever offer it up to Hari — with them Hari Keshava is well pleased; and when Hari is pleased, what is beyond reach?

Verse 25 (garuda.2.55.25)

एवं स्तुत्वा वलदेवो महात्मा तूष्णीं स्थितः प्राञ्जलिरग्रतो हरेः । सरस्वत्युवाच । को वा रसज्ञो भगवन्मुरारे हरे गुणस्तवनात्कीर्तनाद्वा

evaṁ stutvā valadevo mahātmā tūṣṇīṁ sthitaḥ prāñjaliragrato hareḥ sarasvatyuvāca ko vā rasajño bhagavanmurāre hare guṇastavanātkīrtanādvā

Having thus praised, the great-souled Vayu stood silent, hands folded, before Hari. Sarasvati said: O Lord Murari, who would fail to find delight in praising and glorifying your qualities, O Hari?

Verse 26 (garuda.2.55.26)

अलंबुद्धिं प्राप्नुयाद्देवदेव ब्रह्मादिभिः सर्वदा स्तूयमान । यः कर्णनाडीं पुरुषस्य यातो भवप्रदां देहरतिं छिनत्ति

alaṁbuddhiṁ prāpnuyāddevadeva brahmādibhiḥ sarvadā stūyamāna yaḥ karṇanāḍīṁ puruṣasya yāto bhavapradāṁ deharatiṁ chinatti

O god of gods, ever praised by Brahma and the rest, this discourse breeds excellence of mind in the good; entering through the passage of a person's ear, it severs the attachment to the body that gives rise to worldly bondage.

Verse 27 (garuda.2.55.27)

न केवलं देहरतिं छिनत्त्यसद्गृहक्षेत्रभार्यासुतेषु नित्यम् । पश्वादिरूपेषु धनादिकेषु अनर्घ्यरत्नेषु प्रियं छिनत्ति

na kevalaṁ deharatiṁ chinattyasadgṛhakṣetrabhāryāsuteṣu nityam paśvādirūpeṣu dhanādikeṣu anarghyaratneṣu priyaṁ chinatti

It severs not only the attachment to the body, but also the constant attachment to house, field, wife, and children, to livestock and wealth, and to precious gems held dear.

Verse 28 (garuda.2.55.28)

अनंतवेदप्रतिपादितोपि लक्ष्मीर्न वै वेद तव स्वरूपम् । चतुर्मुखो नैव वेद न वायुरसौ न वेत्तीति किमत्र चित्रम्

anaṁtavedapratipāditopi lakṣmīrna vai veda tava svarūpam caturmukho naiva veda na vāyurasau na vettīti kimatra citram

Even though expounded by the endless Vedas, Lakshmi herself does not know your true form; the four-faced Brahma knows it not, nor does Vayu — what wonder is there in this?

Verse 29 (garuda.2.55.29)

एतादृशस्य स्तवने क्वास्ति शक्तिर्मम प्रभो ब्रह्मवाय्वोः सकाशात् । शतैर्गुणैः सर्वदा न्यूनतास्ति अतो हरे दयया मां च पाहि

etādṛśasya stavane kvāsti śaktirmama prabho brahmavāyvoḥ sakāśāt śatairguṇaiḥ sarvadā nyūnatāsti ato hare dayayā māṁ ca pāhi

Where, O Lord, is such power in me to praise you, compared to Brahma and Vayu? I fall short of them, always, by a hundred measures; therefore, O Hari, protect me out of your mercy.

Verse 30 (garuda.2.55.30)

एवं स्तुत्वा हरिं सा तु तूष्णीमास खगेश्वर । भारती तु तदा स्तोतुं हरिं समुपचक्रमे

evaṁ stutvā hariṁ sā tu tūṣṇīmāsa khageśvara bhāratī tu tadā stotuṁ hariṁ samupacakrame

Having thus praised Hari, O lord of birds, she fell silent. Then Bharati set about to praise Hari.

Verse 31 (garuda.2.55.31)

भारत्युवाच । ब्रह्मेश लक्ष्मीश हरे मुरारे गुणांस्तव श्रद्दधानस्य नित्यम् । तथा स्तुवन्तोस्य विवर्धमानां मतिं च नित्यं विषयेष्वसत्सु

bhāratyuvāca brahmeśa lakṣmīśa hare murāre guṇāṁstava śraddadhānasya nityam tathā stuvantosya vivardhamānāṁ matiṁ ca nityaṁ viṣayeṣvasatsu

Bharati said: O lord of Brahma, O lord of Lakshmi, O Hari, O Murari, those who ever, with faith, praise your qualities,

Verse 32 (garuda.2.55.32)

कुर्वन्ति वैराग्यममुत्र लोके ततः परं भक्तिदृढां तथैव । ततः परं चैव हरेः प्रसन्नतां कुर्वन्ति नित्यं तव देवदेव

kurvanti vairāgyamamutra loke tataḥ paraṁ bhaktidṛḍhāṁ tathaiva tataḥ paraṁ caiva hareḥ prasannatāṁ kurvanti nityaṁ tava devadeva

thereby, in this world, turn their growing attachment toward transient objects into dispassion, and beyond that into firm devotion, and beyond even that, O god of gods, they ever attain your very grace.

Verse 33 (garuda.2.55.33)

तेनापरोक्षं च भवेच्च तस्य अतो गुणानां स्तवने च मे रतिः । सा तु प्रजाता पुरुषस्य नित्यं संसारदुःखं तु तदाच्छिनत्ति

tenāparokṣaṁ ca bhavecca tasya ato guṇānāṁ stavane ca me ratiḥ sā tu prajātā puruṣasya nityaṁ saṁsāraduḥkhaṁ tu tadācchinatti

Through that, he attains direct realization of you; hence my delight lies in praising your qualities. That delight, once born in a person, severs the sorrow of worldly existence.

Verse 34 (garuda.2.55.34)

विच्छिन्नदुःखस्य तदाधिकारिण आनन्दरूपाख्यफलं ददाति । हरेर्गुणानस्तुवतां च पापं तेषां हि पुण्यं च तथा क्षिणोति

vicchinnaduḥkhasya tadādhikāriṇa ānandarūpākhyaphalaṁ dadāti harerguṇānastuvatāṁ ca pāpaṁ teṣāṁ hi puṇyaṁ ca tathā kṣiṇoti

For that qualified soul whose sorrow is thus severed, this bestows the fruit called bliss itself; for those who do not praise Hari's qualities, it likewise wears down their sin along with their merit.

Verse 35 (garuda.2.55.35)

एवं विदित्वा परमो गुरुर्मम वायुर्दयालुर्मम वल्लभश्च । हरेर्गुणान्सर्वगुणप्रसारान्ममैव योग्यान्सुखमुख्यभूतान्

evaṁ viditvā paramo gururmama vāyurdayālurmama vallabhaśca harerguṇānsarvaguṇaprasārānmamaiva yogyānsukhamukhyabhūtān

Knowing this, my supreme teacher and my compassionate beloved, Vayu, took hold of Hari's qualities, the very expanse of all excellence, as fitting for me, the foremost means to happiness —

Verse 36 (garuda.2.55.36)

उद्धृत्य पुण्येभ्य इवार्तबन्धुः शिवश्च नो द्रुह्यति पुण्यकीर्तिम् । तव प्रसादाच्च श्रियः प्रसादाद्वायोः प्रसादाच्च ममास्ति नित्यम्

uddhṛtya puṇyebhya ivārtabandhuḥ śivaśca no druhyati puṇyakīrtim tava prasādācca śriyaḥ prasādādvāyoḥ prasādācca mamāsti nityam

and drew them out from among the meritorious, like a friend of the afflicted; and Shiva too never opposes our meritorious renown. All this is mine, forever, by your grace, by the grace of Shri, and by the grace of Vayu.

Verse 37 (garuda.2.55.37)

यद्यत्करोत्येव सदैव वायुस्तत्तत्करोत्येव सदैव नित्यम् । वायोर्विरोधं न करोति देवः स तद्विरोधं च करोति नित्यम्

yadyatkarotyeva sadaiva vāyustattatkarotyeva sadaiva nityam vāyorvirodhaṁ na karoti devaḥ sa tadvirodhaṁ ca karoti nityam

Whatever Vayu ever does, that same I ever do. The god who never acts against Vayu never acts against you either.

Verse 38 (garuda.2.55.38)

हरेर्विरोधं न करोति वायुर्वायोर्विरोधं न करोति विष्णुः । वायोः प्रसादान्मम नास्ति किञ्चिदतानभावश्च तव प्रसादात्

harervirodhaṁ na karoti vāyurvāyorvirodhaṁ na karoti viṣṇuḥ vāyoḥ prasādānmama nāsti kiñcidatānabhāvaśca tava prasādāt

Vayu never acts against Hari, and Vishnu never acts against Vayu; by Vayu's grace nothing is lacking in me, and by your grace even that deficiency does not remain.

Verse 39 (garuda.2.55.39)

यथैव मूलं च तथावतारे दुःखादिकं नास्ति समीरणस्य । वायुस्तथान्ये च उभौ मुकुन्दस्तथावतारेषु न दुःखरूपौ

yathaiva mūlaṁ ca tathāvatāre duḥkhādikaṁ nāsti samīraṇasya vāyustathānye ca ubhau mukundastathāvatāreṣu na duḥkharūpau

As is the source, so is it in the incarnation — no sorrow or the like touches Vayu, the wind. Vayu and the other two, Shesha and Garuda, likewise do not partake of sorrow in their incarnations, nor does Mukunda.

Verse 40 (garuda.2.55.40)

अशक्तवद्दृश्यते वायुदेवः युगानुसारांल्लोकधर्मांस्तु रक्षन् । नरावतारे तत्र देवे मुरारे ह्यशक्तता नेति विचिंतनीयम्

aśaktavaddṛśyate vāyudevaḥ yugānusārāṁllokadharmāṁstu rakṣan narāvatāre tatra deve murāre hyaśaktatā neti viciṁtanīyam

Guarding the ways of the world according to the age, Vayu appears, as it were, powerless; but in that god present in the human incarnation too, O Murari, there is no true powerlessness — thus it should be understood.

Verse 41 (garuda.2.55.41)

अवताररूपे यमदुःखादिकं च न चिन्तनीयं ज्ञानिभिर्देवदेव । अहं कदाचित्सुखनाशप्रदेशे दैत्यांस्तथा मारयितुं गतोस्मि

avatārarūpe yamaduḥkhādikaṁ ca na cintanīyaṁ jñānibhirdevadeva ahaṁ kadācitsukhanāśapradeśe daityāṁstathā mārayituṁ gatosmi

Whatever pleasure or pain appears in an incarnate form, O god of gods, the wise should not dwell on it. I too have gone, at times, to places where happiness is destroyed, in order to slay the demons there.

Verse 42 (garuda.2.55.42)

नैतावता मम वायोश्च नित्यं दुः खातनं नैव संचितनीयम् । एतादृशोहं स्तवनेनु कास्ति शक्तिर्गुणानां मधुसूदन प्रभो । वायोः सकाशाच्च गुणेन हीना संसाररूपे मुक्तरूपे च देव

naitāvatā mama vāyośca nityaṁ duḥ khātanaṁ naiva saṁcitanīyam etādṛśohaṁ stavanenu kāsti śaktirguṇānāṁ madhusūdana prabho vāyoḥ sakāśācca guṇena hīnā saṁsārarūpe muktarūpe ca deva

From this alone, one should never conclude that sorrow is a lasting condition for me or for Vayu. What power, O Madhusudana, do I have to praise your qualities? I fall short of Vayu in excellence, O god, whether in bondage or in liberation.

Verse 43 (garuda.2.55.43)

एवं स्तुत्वा भारती तु तूष्णीमास खगेश्वर । तदनन्तरजः शेषः प्राञ्जलिः प्राह केशवम्

evaṁ stutvā bhāratī tu tūṣṇīmāsa khageśvara tadanantarajaḥ śeṣaḥ prāñjaliḥ prāha keśavam

Having thus praised, O lord of birds, Bharati fell silent. Then Shesha, born next after her, spoke to Keshava with folded hands.

Verse 44 (garuda.2.55.44)

शेष उवाच । नाहं च जाने तव पादमूलं रुद्रो न वेत्ति गरुडो न वेद । अहं वाण्याः शतगुणांशहीनो दत्त्वा ह्यायतनं पाहि मां वासुदेव

śeṣa uvāca nāhaṁ ca jāne tava pādamūlaṁ rudro na vetti garuḍo na veda ahaṁ vāṇyāḥ śataguṇāṁśahīno dattvā hyāyatanaṁ pāhi māṁ vāsudeva

Shesha said: I do not know the root of your feet; Rudra does not know it, nor does Garuda. I fall short of Vani (Sarasvati) by a hundred measures — grant me an abode, O Vasudeva, and protect me.

Verse 45 (garuda.2.55.45)

एवं स्तुत्वा सशेषस्तु तूष्णीमास खगेश्वर । तदनन्तरजो वीशः स्तोतुं समुपचक्रमे

evaṁ stutvā saśeṣastu tūṣṇīmāsa khageśvara tadanantarajo vīśaḥ stotuṁ samupacakrame

Having thus praised, O lord of birds, Shesha fell silent. Then he born next after Shesha, the lord of birds, set about to praise.

Verse 46 (garuda.2.55.46)

गरुड उवाच । तव पदोः स्तुतिं किं करोम्यहं मम पदांबुजे ह्यर्पितं मनः । कथमहं मुखे पक्षियोनिजः कथमेवङ्गुणानीडितुं क्षमः

garuḍa uvāca tava padoḥ stutiṁ kiṁ karomyahaṁ mama padāṁbuje hyarpitaṁ manaḥ kathamahaṁ mukhe pakṣiyonijaḥ kathamevaṅguṇānīḍituṁ kṣamaḥ

Garuda said: What praise of your feet can I offer, when my mind is already offered wholly to your lotus feet? Born from an egg into a bird's form, how could I be able to sing your qualities?

Verse 47 (garuda.2.55.47)

एवं स्तुत्वा तु गरुडस्तूष्णीमास नयान्वितः । तदनन्तरजो रुद्रस्तोतुं समुपचक्रमे

evaṁ stutvā tu garuḍastūṣṇīmāsa nayānvitaḥ tadanantarajo rudrastotuṁ samupacakrame

Having thus praised, Garuda, endowed with wisdom, fell silent. Then Rudra, born next after him, set about to praise.

Verse 48 (garuda.2.55.48)

रुद्र उवाच । या वै तवेश भगवन्न विदाम भूमन् भक्तिर्ममास्तु शिवपादसरोजमूले । छन्नापि सा ननु सदा न ममास्ति देव तेनाद्रुहं तव विरुद्धमतः करोमि

rudra uvāca yā vai taveśa bhagavanna vidāma bhūman bhaktirmamāstu śivapādasarojamūle channāpi sā nanu sadā na mamāsti deva tenādruhaṁ tava viruddhamataḥ karomi

Rudra said: O Lord, O God, O infinite one, may that devotion which I do not truly know remain forever at the root of my auspicious lotus feet — though hidden, it is not constantly present in me, and for that reason I commit offense against you.

Verse 49 (garuda.2.55.49)

सर्वान्न बुद्धिसहितस्य हरे मुरारे का शक्तिरस्ति वचने मम मूढबुद्धेः । वाण्या सदा शतगुणेन विहीनमेनं मां पाहि चेश मम चायतनं च दत्त्वा

sarvānna buddhisahitasya hare murāre kā śaktirasti vacane mama mūḍhabuddheḥ vāṇyā sadā śataguṇena vihīnamenaṁ māṁ pāhi ceśa mama cāyatanaṁ ca dattvā

O Murari, what power lies in the speech of one who lacks all-comprehending wisdom, dull-witted as I am? I fall short of Vani by a hundred measures, always — grant me an abode, O Lord, and protect me.

Verse 50 (garuda.2.55.50)

एवं स्तुत्वा स रुद्रस्तु तूष्णीमास द्विजोत्तमः । शेषानन्तरजा देवी वारुणी वाक्यमब्रवीत्

evaṁ stutvā sa rudrastu tūṣṇīmāsa dvijottamaḥ śeṣānantarajā devī vāruṇī vākyamabravīt

Having thus praised, that best of the twice-born, Rudra, fell silent. Then the goddess Varuni, born next after Shesha, spoke these words.

Verse 51 (garuda.2.55.51)

वारुण्युवाच । लक्ष्मीपते ब्रह्मपते मनोः पते गिरःपते रुद्रपते नृणां पते । गुणांस्तव स्तोतुमहं समर्था न पार्वती नापि सुपर्णपत्नी

vāruṇyuvāca lakṣmīpate brahmapate manoḥ pate giraḥpate rudrapate nṛṇāṁ pate guṇāṁstava stotumahaṁ samarthā na pārvatī nāpi suparṇapatnī

Varuni said: O lord of Lakshmi, O lord of Brahma, O lord of the mind, O lord of speech, O lord of Rudra, O lord of men — I am not capable of praising your qualities, nor is Parvati, nor Vinata, the wife of Suparna.

Verse 52 (garuda.2.55.52)

शेषादहं दशगुणैर्विहीना मां पाहि नित्यं जगतामधीश

śeṣādahaṁ daśaguṇairvihīnā māṁ pāhi nityaṁ jagatāmadhīśa

I fall short of Shesha by ten measures; protect me always, O ruler of all the worlds.

Verse 53 (garuda.2.55.53)

एवं स्तुत्वा वारुणी तु तूष्णीमास खगेश्वर । तदनन्तरजा ब्राह्मी सौपर्णी ह्युपचक्रमे

evaṁ stutvā vāruṇī tu tūṣṇīmāsa khageśvara tadanantarajā brāhmī sauparṇī hyupacakrame

Having thus praised, O lord of birds, Varuni fell silent. Then Brahmi Sauparni, born next after her, began her praise.

Verse 54 (garuda.2.55.54)

सौपर्ण्युवाच । स्तोतुं गुणांस्तव हरे जगदीशवाचा श्रोतुं हरे तव कथां श्रवणे न शक्तिः । यस्तत्त्वनुं स्मरति देव तव स्वरूपं को वै नु वेद भुवि तं भगवत्पदार्थम्

sauparṇyuvāca stotuṁ guṇāṁstava hare jagadīśavācā śrotuṁ hare tava kathāṁ śravaṇe na śaktiḥ yastattvanuṁ smarati deva tava svarūpaṁ ko vai nu veda bhuvi taṁ bhagavatpadārtham

Sauparni said: O Hari, O lord of the universe, I have no power either to praise your qualities in words or even to hear your story with my ears. Who on this earth truly knows that divine reality upon which one meditates as your very form?

Verse 55 (garuda.2.55.55)

अतो गुणस्तवने नास्ति शक्तिर्वीन्द्रादहं दशगुणैरवरा च नित्यम्

ato guṇastavane nāsti śaktirvīndrādahaṁ daśaguṇairavarā ca nityam

Hence I have no power to praise your qualities; I am ever ten measures lesser than the lord of birds.

Verse 56 (garuda.2.55.56)

एवं स्तुत्वा तु सौपर्णी तूष्णीमास खगेश्वर । रुद्रानन्तरजा स्तोतुं गिरिजा तूपचक्रमे

evaṁ stutvā tu sauparṇī tūṣṇīmāsa khageśvara rudrānantarajā stotuṁ girijā tūpacakrame

Having thus praised, O lord of birds, Sauparni fell silent. Then Girija, born next after Rudra, began her praise.

Verse 57 (garuda.2.55.57)

पार्वत्युवाच गोविन्द नारायण वासुदेव त्वया हि मे किञ्चिदपि प्रयोजनम् । नास्त्येव स्वामिन्न च नाम वाचा सौभाग्यरूपः सर्वदा एक एव

pārvatyuvāca govinda nārāyaṇa vāsudeva tvayā hi me kiñcidapi prayojanam nāstyeva svāminna ca nāma vācā saubhāgyarūpaḥ sarvadā eka eva

Parvati said: O Govinda, O Narayana, O Vasudeva, I seek nothing whatsoever from you, my Lord; not even in speech do I have a separate name of my own — the very form of good fortune is ever one alone.

Verse 58 (garuda.2.55.58)

नारायणेति तव नाम च एकमेव वैराग्यभक्तिविभवे परमं समर्थाम् । असंख्यब्रह्मादिकहत्यनाशाने गुर्वङ्गनाकोटिविनाशने च

nārāyaṇeti tava nāma ca ekameva vairāgyabhaktivibhave paramaṁ samarthām asaṁkhyabrahmādikahatyanāśāne gurvaṅganākoṭivināśane ca

'Narayana' — this single name of yours alone is supremely capable in the majesty of dispassion and devotion, in undoing the slaying of countless Brahmas, and in undoing even the destruction of millions of gurus' wives.

Verse 59 (garuda.2.55.59)

नामाधिकारिणी चाहं गुणानां च महाप्रभो । स्तवने नास्ति मे शक्ती रुद्राद्दशगुणैरहम्

nāmādhikāriṇī cāhaṁ guṇānāṁ ca mahāprabho stavane nāsti me śaktī rudrāddaśaguṇairaham

O great Lord, I am but the nominal claimant to your qualities; I have no power to praise them — I fall short of Rudra by ten measures.

Verse 60 (garuda.2.55.60)

अवरा च सदास्म्येव नात्र कार्या विचारणा । एवं स्तुत्वा सा गिरिजास्तूष्णीमास खगेश्वर

avarā ca sadāsmyeva nātra kāryā vicāraṇā evaṁ stutvā sā girijāstūṣṇīmāsa khageśvara

I am ever the lesser one, and there is no need for further deliberation here. Having thus praised, O lord of birds, Girija fell silent.