Shloka 3

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

मूलमन्त्रं महादेव हयग्रीवस्य वाचकम् / प्रवक्ष्यामि परं पुण्यं तदादौ शृणु शङ्कर

Transliteration

mūlamantraṃ mahādeva hayagrīvasya vācakam / pravakṣyāmi paraṃ puṇyaṃ tadādau śṛṇu śaṅkara

Translation

O Mahādeva, ich werde das höchst verdienstvolle Wurzel-Mantra verkünden, das Hayagrīva anruft. Darum höre es gleich zu Beginn, o Śaṅkara.

Word by Word

• मूलमन्त्रम्: the root mantra
• मूलमन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल-मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• महादेव: O Mahadeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः

• हयग्रीवस्य: of Hayagriva
• हयग्रीवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयग्रीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वाचकम्: denoting/expressive (of him)
• वाचकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् मूलमन्त्रम् प्रति

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will declare
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; उपसर्गः प्र-

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् पुण्यम् प्रति

• पुण्यम्: merit, sacred (thing)
• पुण्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रवक्ष्यामि इत्यस्य कर्म

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

• आदौ: at the beginning, first
• आदौ: Desha/Kala-adhikarana (Adverbial locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (locative adverb)

• शृणु: hear, listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Command/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शङ्कर: O Shankara
• शङ्कर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

A narrator/teacher addressing Lord Shiva (Śaṅkara/Mahādeva) within the Purāṇic dialogue frame

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mula-mantra (root invocation) is supremely meritorious and foundational for Hayagriva upasana; attentive reception is essential.

Vedantic Theme: Mantra as a support for saguna-brahma upasana; sacred sound as a means of inner transformation and grace.

Application: Receive mantra with reverence; begin practices with a clear foundational invocation; maintain purity of intention and consistency in japa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mantra-upadesha setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.2 (announcement of Hayagriva worship); Garuda Purana 1.34.1 (Rudra’s request)

Characters & Entities

• Hayagrīva
• Mahādeva
• Śaṅkara

FAQs

What is the importance of the Hayagrīva root-mantra in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames the Hayagrīva mūlamantra as “param puṇya”—a highly meritorious invocation—signaling it as a foundational mantra to be heard and practiced with reverence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it introduces a sacred mantra practice (invoking Hayagrīva) that Purāṇas commonly present as supportive for clarity, right understanding, and spiritual preparedness—qualities relevant to one’s dharmic journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any study or ritual with attentive listening/recitation of a chosen mantra; this verse emphasizes starting with a “root” invocation to cultivate focus, purity, and auspiciousness.