Shloka 42

Gāruḍa-Māhātmya and Tārkṣya-Stotra: Fruits of Hearing/Reciting and the Power of Garuḍa’s Praise

Devanagari script

नाकाले मरणं तस्य श्लोकमेकं तु यः पठेत् / श्लोकार्धपठनादस्य दुष्टशत्रुक्षयो ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

nākāle maraṇaṃ tasya ślokamekaṃ tu yaḥ paṭhet / ślokārdhapaṭhanādasya duṣṭaśatrukṣayo dhruvam

Translation

مَن يتلو ولو بيتًا واحدًا لا تأتيه المنيّةُ في غير أوانها. وحتى بتلاوة نصف بيتٍ، فإن هلاكَ أعدائه الأشرار له أمرٌ محقَّق.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)

• अकाले: at an untimely time
• अकाले: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘अकाले’ = ‘असमये’

• मरणम्: death
• मरणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/for him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्लोकम्: a verse
• श्लोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् श्लोकस्य

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक (but/indeed)

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• पठेत्: should recite
• पठेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• श्लोकार्धपठनात्: from reciting half a verse
• श्लोकार्धपठनात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पठन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (श्लोकस्य अर्धम्; तस्य पठनम्)

• अस्य: of this (person)
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दुष्टशत्रुक्षयः: destruction of wicked enemies
• दुष्टशत्रुक्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दुष्टानां शत्रूणां क्षयः)

• ध्रुवम्: certainly
• ध्रुवम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (certainly)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even brief contact with the sacred utterance confers protection and auspicious ordering of life-span; mantra/śabda is presented as efficacious.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as purifying and protective; devotion expressed through recitation aligns the individual with divine order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: Memorize at least a half-verse for daily recitation; use as a protective prayer during travel, illness, fear, or conflict—alongside prudent action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.240.38-41 (phala-śruti context)

FAQs

What is the importance of akāla-maraṇa (untimely death) prevention in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents śloka-pāṭha (devotional recitation) as a protective discipline, promising freedom from untimely death for the sincere reciter.

How does this verse explain protection in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Within Vishnu’s instruction to Garuda, protection is linked to the power of sacred speech: even partial recitation is said to generate a definite beneficial result (dhruvam).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain regular, mindful recitation of sacred verses as a daily vow, paired with ethical conduct—using the practice for inner steadiness and protection rather than harm.