Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

ॐ क्षः अस्त्राय नम इति अस्त्रं चानेन पूजयेत् / हृदयं च शिरश्चैव शिखां च कवचं तथा

Transliteration

oṃ kṣaḥ astrāya nama iti astraṃ cānena pūjayet / hṛdayaṃ ca śiraścaiva śikhāṃ ca kavacaṃ tathā

Translation

Mit dem Mantra „Oṁ kṣaḥ, Verehrung dem astra“ verehre man das astra, das Waffen-Mantra; und ebenso vollziehe man (nyāsa/Anbetung von) Herz, Haupt, śikhā und kavaca.

Word by Word

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Mantra (Mantric particle/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय (मन्त्र-प्रणव)

• क्षः: kṣaḥ (seed syllable)
• क्षः: Mantra (Mantric seed/बीज)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षः (बीजाक्षर)
• Form: अव्यय (बीजमन्त्र-अक्षर)

• अस्त्राय: to the astra (weapon)
• अस्त्राय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन — dative singular

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Mantra (Salutation/नमस्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (नमस्कारार्थक-निपात)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/इति-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/समाप्तिबोधक) — quotative ‘thus’

• अस्त्रम्: the astra (weapon)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक-निपात)

• अनेन: with this (mantra)
• अनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन — instrumental singular ‘with this’

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should worship’

• हृदयम्: the heart
• हृदयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक-निपात)

• शिरः: the head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक-निपात)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अवधारणार्थक-निपात) — emphatic ‘indeed/just’

• शिखाम्: the śikhā (crest)
• शिखाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunctive/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक-निपात)

• कवचम्: the kavaca (armor)
• कवचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — accusative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘likewise/also’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual action is made efficacious by completeness and closure; the ‘astra’ symbolizes decisive removal of obstacles and the integrity of the consecrated body.

Vedantic Theme: Kriyā as upāsanā-support: ordered action disciplines mind and reduces vikshepa (distraction), preparing for steadier contemplation.

Application: End practices with a clear closing step (short protective prayer, gratitude, or silent seal) to prevent mental ‘leakage’ and carry steadiness into daily life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_perimeter_and_body-mapping

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.35–38 (standard aṅga-nyāsa + astra as concluding protection)

FAQs

What is the importance of the “astra” mantra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the astra-mantra as a protective invocation, used to ‘seal’ and safeguard a rite through mantra-worship alongside other protective placements (nyāsa).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it gives ritual technology (protective mantras/nyāsa) that supports purity and protection in religious observances discussed in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows a traditional practice under guidance, this verse indicates using protective invocations (heart/head/topknot/armor and astra) to cultivate focus, sanctity, and a sense of spiritual protection before or during worship.