Shloka 3

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing Hari with the Pavitra

Devanagari script

विष्णूक्ते ह्यब्रवीन्नागो वासुकेरनुजस्तदा / वृणीत च वपित्राख्यं वरं चेदं वृषध्वज

Transliteration

viṣṇūkte hyabravīnnāgo vāsukeranujastadā / vṛṇīta ca vapitrākhyaṃ varaṃ cedaṃ vṛṣadhvaja

Translation

Als Viṣṇu so gesprochen hatte, sagte die Schlange — Vasukis jüngerer Bruder — damals: «O Vṛṣadhvaja, wähle diese Gabe, die Vapitra genannt wird».

Word by Word

• विष्णूक्ते: when (it was) spoken by Viṣṇu
• विष्णूक्ते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विष्णुना उक्ते (वचने)’ इति (locative absolute sense)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुबोधक अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अब्रवीत्: said
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• नागः: the serpent
• नागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• वासुकेः: of Vāsuki
• वासुकेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अनुजः: younger brother
• अनुजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb: then)

• वृणीत: choose (for yourself)
• वृणीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; (वृणीष्व/वृणीथाः इत्यर्थे)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• वपित्राख्यम्: named ‘vapitra’
• वपित्राख्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वपित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘वपित्र इति आख्यं’ इति (नामधेयवाचक)

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वृषध्वज: O Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः’ (epithet of Śiva)

Speaker

Vāsuki’s younger brother (a Nāga/serpent)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred observances and objects (pavitra/vapitra) arise as boons within divine economy; devotion is mediated through consecrated symbols.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā through pratikas (sacred supports) leading the mind toward the Lord; grace expressed as accessible ritual means.

Application: Treat devotional supports (mālā, pavitra thread, vrata tokens) as aids to steadiness and remembrance, not as mere superstition; keep them with purity and intention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: divine council (mythic)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (continuation: definition and procedure of pavitra/vapitra)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Vāsuki
• Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva)
• Nāga

FAQs

What is the importance of the ‘Vapitra’ boon mentioned in this verse?

This verse introduces a specific boon called “Vapitra,” presented as a chosen blessing; its importance here is as a named, formal boon offered within a divine dialogue.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

This particular line does not describe the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a narrative exchange about granting/choosing a boon among divine beings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights discernment in accepting “boons” (benefits, powers, opportunities): choose what is truly purifying and aligned with dharma rather than what is merely attractive.