Shloka 3

Mṛtyuñjaya/Amṛteśvara Upāsanā: Three-Syllable Mantra, Kavaca, Japa-Phala, and Pūjā-Aṅgas

Devanagari script

ईशविष्णवर्कदेव्यादिकवचं सर्वसाधकम् / अमृतेशं महामन्त्रन्त्र्यक्षरं पूजनं समम् / जपनान्मृत्युहीनाः स्युः सर्वपापविवर्जिताः

Transliteration

īśaviṣṇavarkadevyādikavacaṃ sarvasādhakam / amṛteśaṃ mahāmantrantryakṣaraṃ pūjanaṃ samam / japanānmṛtyuhīnāḥ syuḥ sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ

Translation

Das Schutzkavaca, das mit Īśa, Viṣṇu und den Göttinnen beginnt, ist wirksam, um alle Ziele zu vollbringen. Die Verehrung Amṛteśas—des großen dreisilbigen Mantras—ist einer vollständigen Pūjā gleich. Durch sein Wiederholen (japa) wird man frei von vorzeitigem Tod und von allen Sünden gereinigt.

Word by Word

• ईशविष्णुवर्कदेव्यादिकवचम्: the protective formula of Īśa, Viṣṇu, Arkadevī, etc.
• ईशविष्णुवर्कदेव्यादिकवचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्कदेवी (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः — ‘ईश-विष्णु-अर्कदेवी-आदि-सम्बद्धं कवचम्’

• सर्वसाधकम्: accomplishing all (purposes)
• सर्वसाधकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘सर्वं साधयति’ इति

• अमृतेशम्: Amṛteśa (Lord of nectar)
• अमृतेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — ‘अमृतस्य ईशः’

• महामन्त्रत्र्यक्षरम्: the great three-syllabled mantra
• महामन्त्रत्र्यक्षरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रि (संख्या) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘महामन्त्र’ + ‘त्र्यक्षर’ (त्रि+अक्षर, द्विगु) — ‘three-syllabled great mantra’

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्-णिच् भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• समम्: equal (in merit)
• समम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘तुल्यम्’

• जपनात्: from (its) recitation
• जपनात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचनम्; ‘जप’ = repetition

• मृत्युहीनाः: free from death
• मृत्युहीनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘मृत्यु-हीन’ = ‘free from death’

• स्युः: may become/should be
• स्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• सर्वपापविवर्जिताः: devoid of all sins
• सर्वपापविवर्जिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त, वि-√वृज्/√वर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) — ‘सर्वपापैः विवर्जिताः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kavaca beginning with Īśa–Viṣṇu and other deities is universally accomplishing; tri-syllable Amṛteśa mantra-japa equals pūjā and removes untimely death and sins.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma/mantra as concentrated upāsanā; purification (pāpa-kṣaya) and protection as fruits of disciplined devotion.

Application: Adopt a daily kavaca recitation and tri-akṣara japa as a compact practice when full ritual is not possible; maintain ethical living to support pāpa-kṣaya claims.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/mantra-protective framework (kavaca and japa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: kavaca and rakṣā-mantra sections in ritual chapters; Garuda Purana: sin-removal and longevity claims tied to japa and devotion

Characters & Entities

• Īśa (Śiva)
• Viṣṇu
• Devī
• Amṛteśa

FAQs

What is the importance of kavacha and mantra-japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents kavacha and japa as practical spiritual tools: they are said to accomplish aims, function like full worship, and grant protection—especially against untimely death—while also reducing sin.

How does this verse relate to death-related concerns discussed in the Garuda Purana?

Although not describing Yama or the afterlife directly, it frames a preventive discipline: mantra-japa and protective recitation are recommended as safeguards that avert premature death and purify karmic burdens.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a steady practice of japa and devotional recitation (kavacha) with ethical living; the verse emphasizes regular repetition and worshipful intent as the core discipline for protection and purification.