Shloka 6

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

दुर्गेदुर्गे रक्षिणि स्वाहा मन्त्रो ऽयं पूजनादिषु / दीर्घाकारादिमात्राभिर्नव देव्यो नमो ऽन्तिकाः

Transliteration

durgedurge rakṣiṇi svāhā mantro 'yaṃ pūjanādiṣu / dīrghākārādimātrābhirnava devyo namo 'ntikāḥ

Translation

“O Durgā, O Durgā, O Protectress—svāhā”: this is the mantra to be employed in worship and allied rites. With the long “ā” and the other prescribed mātrās, one should bow in reverence to the nine Goddesses who are close at hand.

Word by Word

• दुर्गे: O Durgā
• दुर्गे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Vocative singular feminine

• दुर्गे: O Durgā
• दुर्गे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Vocative singular feminine

• रक्षिणि: O protectress
• रक्षिणि: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — Vocative singular feminine

• स्वाहा: svāhā (oblation call)
• स्वाहा: Prayojaka/Mantra-pada (Ritual utterance)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (प्रातिपदिक/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: अव्यय; मन्त्र-उच्चारणे होम-समाप्तिसूचक-निपातः — indeclinable exclamation used in oblations

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative singular masculine

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — demonstrative pronoun, nominative singular masculine

• पूजनादिषु: in worship and related rites
• पूजनादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन — Locative plural neuter; ‘पूजन-आदि’ = worship etc.

• दीर्घाकारादिमात्राभिः: by long-ā and other mātrās
• दीर्घाकारादिमात्राभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ + आकार + आदि + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural feminine; ‘दीर्घ-आकार-आदि-मात्रा’ = long ‘ā’ etc. measures (vowel-lengths)

• नव: nine
• नव: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — numeral used adjectivally, nominative plural feminine

• देव्यः: goddesses
• देव्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — Nominative plural feminine

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojaka/Mantra-pada (Salutation formula)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक-निपातः — indeclinable used for salutation

• अन्तिकाः: (the) Antikā-s (near/attendant goddesses)
• अन्तिकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — Nominative plural feminine

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-japa with correct mātrā (vowel-length) and reverent salutation invokes the protective presence of Devī.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha (grace) accessed through śraddhā and upāsanā; sacred sound as a means (sādhana).

Application: Chant the mantra with correct vowel-lengths; maintain attentiveness to pronunciation and intention; cultivate protective remembrance of the Divine Feminine in daily worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (puja-mandapa/griha-devata-sthana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.133.7-10 (nyāsa, iconography, worship supports)

Characters & Entities

• Durgā
• Nine Devīs

FAQs

What is the importance of correct mātrā (vowel-length) in Garuḍa Purāṇa mantras?

This verse explicitly links the mantra’s use in pūjā to correct mātrā (like the long ‘ā’), implying that accurate pronunciation preserves the intended ritual power and meaning.

How does this verse relate to Garuḍa Purāṇa ritual practice?

It gives a specific protective mantra (“durge durge rakṣiṇi svāhā”) and instructs that it be applied in worship and allied rites, highlighting practical liturgical usage within the text’s ritual sections.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When reciting mantras for worship or protection, prioritize clear pronunciation and meter, and use the invocation with focused intent rather than hurried repetition.