Shloka 49

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

मुद्राणां धारणे चैव शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् / पद्मं नारायणीं मुद्रां क्रुद्धोल्कादींश्च संस्मरेत्

Transliteration

mudrāṇāṃ dhāraṇe caiva śaṅkhacakragadādharam / padmaṃ nārāyaṇīṃ mudrāṃ kruddholkādīṃśca saṃsmaret

Translation

عند اتخاذ المُدرات المقدّسة أو لبسها، فليتذكّر المرءُ الربَّ حاملَ الصدفة (شَنْخا) والقرص (تشاكرا) والهراوة (غَدَا). وليستحضر أيضًا اللوتس، ومُدرا «نارايَني»، والصورَ الحامية الشديدة التي تبدأ بـ«كرُدّْهولْكا».

Word by Word

• मुद्राणाम्: of the seals/hand-signs
• मुद्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• धारणे: in wearing/holding
• धारणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धरम्: the bearer of conch, discus, and mace
• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शङ्खं चक्रं गदां च धरति)

• पद्मम्: the lotus (mudrā)
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नारायणीम्: Nārāyaṇī (pertaining to Nārāyaṇa)
• नारायणीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (mudrām इति)

• मुद्राम्: mudrā (seal/gesture)
• मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रुद्ध-उल्क-आदीन्: (names) beginning with Kruddholka etc.
• क्रुद्ध-उल्क-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + उल्का (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = and others; क्रुद्धोल्क-आदि (beginning with Kruddholka)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) with सम्-उपसर्ग
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied devotion: remembering Śaṅkha-Cakra-Gadā-dhara while assuming mudrās; invoking Nārāyaṇī and protective fierce forms for spiritual safeguarding.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā that disciplines body-mind; symbols (āyudha, mudrā) focus citta and reinforce surrender (śaraṇāgati).

Application: During ritual gestures/markings (mudrā), consciously visualize Vishnu with conch-disc-mace; use protective invocations when beginning travel, worship, or vulnerable transitions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29.48 (tilaka and Dvādaśa-nāma); Garuda Purana 3.29.50 (sandhyā and śrāddha remembrance)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)
• Shankha
• Chakra
• Gada
• Padma
• Narayani Mudra
• Kruddholka (protective form/name)

FAQs

What is the importance of mudrā-dhāraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links mudrā-dhāraṇa with smaraṇa (remembrance) of Nārāyaṇa’s protective forms, indicating that correct ritual sealing/gestures are strengthened by focused devotion and recollection.

How does this verse relate to protection in rites connected with the Garuda Purana?

By prescribing remembrance of Viṣṇu as Śaṅkha-Cakra-Gadādhara along with specific mudrās and fierce protective forms, the verse frames ritual performance as a spiritual safeguard against obstacles and fear.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During prayer or any traditional rite, combine correct gestures/ritual steps with mindful remembrance of Viṣṇu’s protective attributes—keeping attention steady rather than treating the practice as mechanical.