Shloka 13

Devanagari script

रं राहुं कं यजेत्केतुं ॐ तेजश्चण्डमर्चयेत् / सूर्यमभ्यर्च्य चाचम्य कनिष्ठातो ऽङ्गकांन्यसेत्

Transliteration

raṃ rāhuṃ kaṃ yajetketuṃ oṃ tejaścaṇḍamarcayet / sūryamabhyarcya cācamya kaniṣṭhāto 'ṅgakāṃnyaset

Translation

Mit der Silbe „raṃ“ soll man Rāhu verehren; mit „kaṃ“ Ketu; und mit „oṃ“ den wilden Glanz (Tejas) anbeten. Nachdem man die Sonne verehrt und ācamanam (das Schlürfen des Reinigungswassers) vollzogen hat, setze man die Glieder-nyāsa beginnend beim kleinen Finger.

Word by Word

• रं: raṃ (seed syllable)
• रं: Mantra-element (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रं (अव्यय/बीज)
• Form: बीजाक्षरम्, अव्यय

• राहुम्: Rāhu
• राहुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कं: kaṃ (seed syllable)
• कं: Mantra-element (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कं (अव्यय/बीज)
• Form: बीजाक्षरम्, अव्यय

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• केतुम्: Ketu
• केतुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Mantra-invocation (आह्वान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणवः, अव्यय

• तेजः: splendor/energy
• तेजः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

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

• चण्डम्: fierce
• चण्डम्: Karma (Object qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सूर्यम्: the Sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + √अर्च् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त; पूर्वक्रिया

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

• आचम्य: having sipped water (ācamanam)
• आचम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √चम् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ल्यप्; पूर्वक्रिया

• कनिष्ठातः: from the little finger
• कनिष्ठातः: Apadana/Source-point (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; अवयव-निर्देशे

• अङ्गकान्: the limbs/parts (for nyāsa)
• अङ्गकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign (perform nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √अस्/न्यस् (धातु; √अस् ‘to place’ in causative/denom. nyas-)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Engaging disruptive karmic indicators (Rāhu/Ketu) through mantra and purification, then internalizing divinity via nyāsa.

Vedantic Theme: Transforming tamas/obscuration into clarity by returning to tejas (inner light) and disciplined practice.

Application: When facing instability or ‘eclipse’ periods, combine remedial prayer with grounding routines (purification, mindful body awareness).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (solar altar; nyāsa practice)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.12 (graha mantras); Garuda Purana 1.23.14 (nyāsa and bhūtaśuddhi); Garuda Purana 1.23.15 (arghya vessel and sprinkling)

Characters & Entities

• Rāhu
• Ketu
• Sūrya (Sun)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Rāhu and Ketu in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents a mantra-based method to honor Rāhu and Ketu as part of disciplined ritual practice, aligning one’s worship with specific bīja-syllables and purification steps.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes ritual purity and correct mantra-nyāsa, which the Garuḍa Purāṇa treats as supportive disciplines for dharma and auspicious outcomes rather than a direct description of the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows traditional practice, perform worship with cleanliness, begin with Sūrya-arcanā and ācamanam, and apply mantras with mindful nyāsa—prioritizing sincerity and correct procedure.