Shloka 15

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

जप्त्वा दशाक्षरीं विद्यां नासौ केनापि बध्यते / पञ्च (ञ्चा) दशाङ्गुलं खड्गं त्रिशूलं च ततो यजेत् / लिङ्गस्यां पूजयेद्वापि पादुके ऽथ जले ऽपि वा

Transliteration

japtvā daśākṣarīṃ vidyāṃ nāsau kenāpi badhyate / pañca (ñcā) daśāṅgulaṃ khaḍgaṃ triśūlaṃ ca tato yajet / liṅgasyāṃ pūjayedvāpi pāduke 'tha jale 'pi vā

Translation

Wer die zehnsilbige heilige Vidyā (daśākṣarī) rezitiert hat, wird von niemandem gebunden. Dann soll man ein Schwert von fünfzehn Aṅgulas und auch einen Dreizack verehren; oder man verehre es auf einem Liṅga, auf den Pādukās (Sandalen), oder sogar im Wasser.

Word by Word

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘जपित्वा’; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• दश-अक्षरीम्: ten-syllabled
• दश-अक्षरीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश अक्षराणि यस्याः)

• विद्याम्: mantra/knowledge
• विद्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• असौ: that person/he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• केन: by whom/with what
• केन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘even/also’)

• बध्यते: is bound
• बध्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: ‘is bound’)

• पञ्चदश: fifteen
• पञ्चदश: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + दश (संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-समस्तपदम्; (पञ्च + दश = 15)

• अङ्गुलम्: a finger-breadth (measure)
• अङ्गुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिशूलम्: trident
• त्रिशूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि शूलानि/त्रिशूलम्)

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

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लिङ्गस्याम्: on/in the liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गस्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; (पाठः ‘लिङ्गे’ अपेक्ष्य; ‘लिङ्गस्याम्’ = लिङ्गे/लिङ्गस्थाने)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• पादुके: in the pair of sandals
• पादुके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सप्तमी-रूपम् (contextually सप्तमी-अधिकरण: ‘in the sandals’)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘then/now’)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-japa and prescribed worship (upāsanā/arcana) confer protection and freedom from binding forces (bandhana).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-upāsanā purifies and fortifies the mind; mantra as śabda-śakti leading toward inner fearlessness.

Application: Regularly recite the daśākṣarī vidyā; perform simple, consistent worship of symbolic implements (sword/trident) even with limited resources (on liṅga, sandals, or water) as a portable protective practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.133.11-14 (iconography and fierce forms that contextualize the mantra/puja)

Characters & Entities

• (Implied) Vishnu
• (Implied) Shiva (liṅga)
• Garuda (contextual listener)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Daśākṣarī vidyā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that recitation of the ten-syllabled vidyā removes “bondage”—i.e., one is not restrained or overpowered by external forces—highlighting japa as a direct protective spiritual practice.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

It links mantra-recitation with specific ritual worship (yajet/pūjayet) of symbolic weapons—sword and trident—showing a combined approach of japa plus upāsanā for protection and efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain disciplined mantra-japa and pair it with simple, respectful worship according to one’s tradition (at a shrine/altar, symbolically, or with water-offerings), focusing on inner restraint, courage, and ethical conduct.