Shloka 14

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing/Offering the Pavitra Sacred Thread

Devanagari script

वायव्यां सर्षपं दद्यात्कवचेन वृषध्वज / गृहं संवेष्ट्य सूत्रेण दद्याद्रन्धपवित्रकम्

Transliteration

vāyavyāṃ sarṣapaṃ dadyātkavacena vṛṣadhvaja / gṛhaṃ saṃveṣṭya sūtreṇa dadyādrandhapavitrakam

Translation

O Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva), in nordwestlicher Richtung soll man Senfkörner als schützenden Kavaca darbringen; und nachdem man das Haus mit einem Faden umschlungen hat, soll man für die Öffnungen ein durchlochtes Pavitraka als glückverheißenden Reiniger geben.

Word by Word

• वायव्याम्: in the north-west (direction)
• वायव्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — Locative singular; दिशि (in the north-west direction)

• सर्षपम्: mustard seed
• सर्षपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

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

• कवचेन: with (a) protective covering/armor
• कवचेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• वृषध्वज: O bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष-ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Vocative singular; वृषः ध्वजः यस्य (bull-bannered, epithet of Śiva)

• गृहम्: the house
• गृहम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular

• संवेष्ट्य: having wrapped (it) around
• संवेष्ट्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय — having wrapped/encircled

• सूत्रेण: with a thread
• सूत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन — Instrumental singular

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

• रन्धपवित्रकम्: a purifier/amulet for the opening (aperture)
• रन्धपवित्रकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रन्ध-पवित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — Accusative singular; रन्धे (छिद्रे/छिद्रस्थाने) पवित्रकं (a purifier/amulet for an opening)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritualized protection and purification of domestic space through offerings and boundary-marking.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyatma–bahya-shuddhi: outer order supports inner steadiness (चित्त-शुद्धि) for worship.

Application: Use simple apotropaic measures (mustard, thread-circling, protective filters) with mantra-intent to create a focused, sattvic environment for vrata/puja.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: directional quadrant of a house/ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.42.15-18 (homa, bhuta-bali, night vigil, pavitra-sthapana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Vṛṣadhvaja)

FAQs

What is the importance of mustard seeds (sarṣapa) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse treats mustard seeds as a protective kavaca—an apotropaic offering used to ward off harmful influences, especially when placed directionally (here, the north-west).

How does this verse relate to protection from unseen forces?

By prescribing a directional offering (north-west) and a boundary-making act (thread encircling the house), the verse frames protection as both spatial (directions/thresholds) and ritual (kavaca/pavitraka).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain clear household boundaries and purity—symbolically through disciplined routines and ethically through cleanliness, prayer, and mindful conduct at entry points (what you allow into the home and mind).