Shloka 18

Tithi-Vrata Vidhāna: Śikhī-vrata (Pratipadā), Tṛtīyā Devī/Śrīdhara rites, Gaṇeśa Caturthī Mantra-Nyāsa, and Nāga Pañcamī

Devanagari script

पद्मदंष्टाय स्वाहान्ते मुद्रा वै नर्तनं गणे / हस्ततालश्च हसनं सौभाग्यादिफलं भवेत्

Transliteration

padmadaṃṣṭāya svāhānte mudrā vai nartanaṃ gaṇe / hastatālaśca hasanaṃ saubhāgyādiphalaṃ bhavet

Translation

At the close of the mantra addressed to Padmadaṃṣṭā and ending with “svāhā,” one should form the mudrā and dance amid the attendant company; clapping the hands and joyful laughter are also enjoined—bringing blessings such as good fortune and related fruits.

Word by Word

• पद्मदंष्टाय: to Padmadaṃṣṭrā (named deity/form)
• पद्मदंष्टाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मदंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक; पद्म + दंष्ट्रा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; ‘पद्मदंष्ट्रा’ इति नाम

• स्वाहा-अन्ते: at the end (with) ‘svāhā’
• स्वाहा-अन्ते: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; ‘स्वाहा’ इत्यन्ते (at the end with ‘svāhā’)

• मुद्रा: the hand-gesture (mudrā)
• मुद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• नर्तनम्: dancing
• नर्तनम्: Karta/karma (as coordinated act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्रियानाम (act-noun)

• गणे: in the assembly/group (gaṇa)
• गणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• हस्ततालः: hand-clapping
• हस्ततालः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हस्तस्य तालः)

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

• हसनम्: laughing/smiling
• हसनम्: Karta/karma (as coordinated act)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; क्रियानाम

• सौभाग्यादिफलम्: the fruit such as good fortune, etc.
• सौभाग्यादिफलम्: Karma/Phala (Result/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभाग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘सौभाग्य-आदि’ इति समाहारः, तस्य फलम्

• भवेत्: would be/should occur
• भवेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied devotion: gesture, rhythm, and joy function as valid ritual offerings that generate auspicious results.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha mediated through upāsanā; karma (ritual action) becomes sanctified when performed with devotional affect.

Application: In vrata/pujā, add disciplined mudrā and rhythmic clapping/chant-response as mindful offerings rather than mere entertainment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: hasya

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (gṛha/maṇḍapa/temple precinct)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.129 (Gaṇeśa/Caturthī-vrata sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Padmadaṃṣṭā
• Svāhā
• Gaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of mudrā and accompanying actions in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse treats mudrā, rhythmic clapping, and ritualized movement as integral parts of a mantra’s completion, indicating that correct performance (kriyā) supports the intended auspicious fruit such as saubhāgya.

How does this verse fit the Garuda–Vishnu dialogue framework of the Garuda Purana?

It reads as a procedural instruction—Vishnu prescribing a specific mantra-ending (svāhā) and the associated ritual acts—consistent with Vishnu teaching Garuda practical observances and their results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows a traditional mantra practice under guidance, this verse highlights doing it with proper closure and prescribed ritual discipline—valuing correct method, focus, and reverence rather than casual recitation.