Shloka 51

Śrīnivāsa at Svāmipuṣkariṇī: Darśana, Stotra, the Secret Veṅkaṭeśa Mantra, and the Meaning of “Vyaṅkaṭeśa”

Devanagari script

चतुर्मुखश्चारुसरस्वती च स्वभारती शर्वसुपर्णशेषाः / अमामहेद्रश्च शचीमुखास्ताः कुर्वन्तु दृ

Transliteration

caturmukhaścārusarasvatī ca svabhāratī śarvasuparṇaśeṣāḥ / amāmahedraśca śacīmukhāstāḥ kurvantu dṛ

Translation

Mögen Brahmā mit den vier Antlitzen, die schöne Sarasvatī, unsere eigene Bhāratī—die heilige Rede—, Śarva (Śiva), Suparṇa (Garuḍa) und Śeṣa; und auch Indra samt Śacī und den übrigen—uns glückverheißende Schau und Wohlergehen verleihen.

Word by Word

• चतुर्मुखः: the four-faced one (Brahmā)
• चतुर्मुखः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारि मुखानि यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आरुसरस्वती: Āru/Chāru Sarasvatī (name; uncertain reading)
• आरुसरस्वती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरु-सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आरु/चारु-सरस्वती इति पाठभेदसम्भवः; रूप/अर्थ अनिश्चित)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्वभारती: Svabhāratī (name)
• स्वभारती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-भारती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वा भारती)

• शर्वसुपर्णशेषाः: Śarva, Suparṇa, and Śeṣa
• शर्वसुपर्णशेषाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्व-सुपर्ण-शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (शर्वः + सुपर्णः + शेषः)

• अमामहेद्रः: Amāmaha-Indra (name; uncertain)
• अमामहेद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमामह-इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अमामहस्य इन्द्रः/इन्द्रः) पाठ/अर्थ अनिश्चित

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शचीमुखाः: Śacī-faced ones / those with Śacī as face (epithet; unclear)
• शचीमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शची-मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शच्याः मुखाः/शचीमुखाः)

• ताः: those (fem.)
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• कुर्वन्तु: may they do / may they grant
• कुर्वन्तु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• दृ: [truncated]
• दृ: Unknown (अनिश्चित)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृ (अव्यय/अपूर्णपाठ)
• Form: अपूर्ण/भ्रष्टपाठ (truncated reading); अर्थ/रूप अनिश्चित

Speaker

Narrator (benedictory invocatory verse within the text)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mangala-stuti and devata-anugraha as a support for auspicious vision (shubha-darshana) and well-being.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-anugraha as an aid to sattva and right orientation (samyag-darshana) before sacred acts/recitation.

Application: Begin study/ritual with a brief invocation to align speech, mind, and perception; cultivate sattvic intention and humility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.25 (mangala/kshetra-nadi-smriti sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Sarasvati
• Bharati
• Shiva
• Garuda
• Shesha
• Indra
• Shachi

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking multiple deities in this Garuda Purana verse?

This śloka functions as a benediction, seeking protection, clarity, and auspicious perception from major deities connected with creation (Brahmā), knowledge and speech (Sarasvatī/Bhāratī), power (Indra), and cosmic support (Śiva, Garuḍa, Śeṣa).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on dharma and rituals?

Before prescribing dharma or rites, the text commonly places a maṅgala-prārthanā (auspicious prayer) to ensure the recitation and understanding proceed without obstacles, emphasizing purity of speech (Bhāratī) and right vision (dṛk).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a short opening prayer before study or ritual recitation—cultivating truthful speech, respectful learning, and a calm, auspicious mindset.