Shloka 13

Dhyāna of Hari and the Procedure of Āditya/Sūrya Worship

Devanagari script

अग्निप्राकारमन्त्रो ऽयं सूर्यस्याघविनाशनः / ॐ आदित्याय विद्महे,विश्वभा वाय धीमहि, तन्नः सूर्य प्रचोदयात्

Transliteration

agniprākāramantro 'yaṃ sūryasyāghavināśanaḥ / oṃ ādityāya vidmahe,viśvabhā vāya dhīmahi, tannaḥ sūrya pracodayāt

Translation

Dies ist das Mantra «Agni-prākāra» (Feuerumhegung), das durch die Kraft der Sonne Sünde vertreibt: «Om. Wir erkennen Āditya; wir meditieren den All-Erleuchtenden; möge jener Sūrya uns inspirieren und antreiben».

Word by Word

• अग्निप्राकारमन्त्रः: the mantra called ‘agniprākāra’
• अग्निप्राकारमन्त्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राकार (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (agniprākāra- ‘of the fire-enclosure’) + तत्पुरुषः (…mantraḥ)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सूर्यस्य: of the Sun
• सूर्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अघविनाशनः: destroyer of sin
• अघविनाशनः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघ (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अघस्य विनाशनः) विशेषणम्

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambodhana/Mantra-particle (Invocation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव-निपात (sacred syllable)

• आदित्याय: to Āditya (Sun)
• आदित्याय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• विद्महे: we know
• विद्महे: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• विश्वभाय: to Viśvabhā (all-shining one)
• विश्वभाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; नाम (epithet)

• धीमहि: we meditate
• धीमहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नः: of us / our
• नः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• सूर्य: O Sun
• सूर्य: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रचोदयात्: may (he) impel/inspire
• प्रचोदयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चुद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive usage), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pāpa-nāśa through mantra and contemplation of Āditya as viśvabhā (all-illuminating).

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-light symbolism: outer Sun as pointer to inner consciousness (jyotis) that impels dhī (intellect).

Application: Daily japa at sunrise; use as protective nyāsa/āvaraṇa before rites; cultivate sattvic clarity and ethical restraint aligned with ‘light’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic sphere (solar orb)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Ācāra sections): solar/āvaraṇa mantras used as protective preliminaries to rites; Garuda Purana: emphasis on mantra as pāpa-kṣaya and śuddhi before śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related observances

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Surya
• Aditya

FAQs

What is the importance of the Agni-prākāra mantra in the Garuda Purana?

It is presented as a protective, purifying mantra—forming a symbolic ‘fire-enclosure’ and removing sin (agha) through contemplation of the Sun’s divine radiance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

By emphasizing purification and inner illumination (dhī), it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that spiritual clarity and merit reduce suffering and obstacles on one’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Chant it as a daily or ritual invocation for clarity, self-discipline, and ethical renewal—treating the Sun as the symbol of truth that guides one’s intellect and conduct.