Shloka 38

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

वक्त्रेण लाञ्छितं वायुमेकोद्धातगुणाः शराः / त्दृत्स्थानसादृश्यरुतं शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्

Transliteration

vaktreṇa lāñchitaṃ vāyumekoddhātaguṇāḥ śarāḥ / tdṛtsthānasādṛśyarutaṃ śatakoṭipravistaram

Translation

موسومًا بالفم يُحرَّك الهواء؛ وسهامٌ، كلٌّ منها مدفوعٌ بصفةٍ واحدةٍ مرفوعة، تَدوّي كضجيج ساحة القتال—وتنتشر امتدادًا إلى كُروراتٍ لا تُحصى.

Word by Word

• वक्त्रेण: with the mouth/face
• वक्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• लाञ्छितम्: marked/characterized
• लाञ्छितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लाञ्छित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √लक्ष्/लाञ्छ्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle)

• वायुम्: wind (vāyu)
• वायुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• एकोद्धातगुणाः: having qualities arising from the one (source)
• एकोद्धातगुणाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + उद्धात + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (एकेन उद्धाताः/उद्भूताः गुणाः यस्य) विशेषणम्

• शराः: arrows
• शराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• त्दृत्स्थानसादृश्यरुतम्: having a sound/form resembling (its) place (text uncertain)
• त्दृत्स्थानसादृश्यरुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: (पाठदोष/दुर्बोध) त्/द् + दृत्? + स्थान + सादृश्य + रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (स्थानेन सादृश्यं, रुतं/रूपं इव)

• शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्: expanded to a hundred crores
• शतकोटिप्रविस्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत + कोटि + प्रविस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (शतकोटिभिः प्रविस्तरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa-driven propulsion: subtle qualities ‘impel’ movement; inner forces multiply and pervade, requiring mastery and purification.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-vyāpāra (operations of sattva/rajas/tamas) as the engine of embodied experience; need for their regulation for clarity.

Application: Use controlled breath (vāyu-niyama) and mantra to prevent scattered ‘arrow-like’ energies—channel intensity into focused meditation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner prāṇic field (vāyu-tattva)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.37 (prāṇa/apāna context); Garuda Purana 1.23.39 (mantra-bīja for stabilization)

FAQs

What is the importance of vayu (prana/wind) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses vayu as a driving principle—an inner force that becomes “marked” or directed, indicating how motion and experience can be propelled by subtle impulses.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing directed wind and far-spreading resonance, the verse points to subtle propulsion—how inner forces and qualities can carry effects outward, a common Garuda Purana way of illustrating unseen causation behind experience.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Guard speech and impulses: the verse frames “mouth-marked” motion and expanding effects, suggesting disciplined speech and controlled drives reduce harmful karmic spread.