Shloka 2

Mṛtyuñjaya/Amṛteśvara Upāsanā: Three-Syllable Mantra, Kavaca, Japa-Phala, and Pūjā-Aṅgas

Devanagari script

ओङ्कारं पूर्वमुद्धृत्य जु(हु)ङ्कांरं तदनन्तरम् / सविसर्गं तृतीयं स्यान्मृत्युदारिद्रयमर्दनम्

Transliteration

oṅkāraṃ pūrvamuddhṛtya ju(hu)ṅkāṃraṃ tadanantaram / savisargaṃ tṛtīyaṃ syānmṛtyudāridrayamardanam

Translation

First utter Oṁ; next pronounce the sound huṁ (or juṁ, as some manuscripts read). The third should be uttered with the visarga (ḥ). This triad is said to crush death and poverty.

Word by Word

• ओङ्कारम्: the syllable Oṃkāra
• ओङ्कारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘first/before’

• उद्धृत्य: having uttered/raised
• उद्धृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund) — ‘having uttered/raised’

• जुङ्कारम्: the syllable ‘juṅkāra/huṅkāra’
• जुङ्कारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जुङ्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; पाठभेदः: जु(हु)ङ्कारम्

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (Reference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• अनन्तरम्: immediately after
• अनन्तरम्: Sambandha (Temporal/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘immediately after’

• सविसर्गम्: with visarga
• सविसर्गम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘विसर्गसहितम्’

• तृतीयम्: the third
• तृतीयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• मृत्युदारिद्रयमर्दनम्: crusher of death and poverty
• मृत्युदारिद्रयमर्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + दारिद्र्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समाहार-तत्पुरुषः — ‘मृत्यु-दारिद्र्ययोः मर्दनम्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical narration flow of Garuda Purana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Correct utterance and sequencing of praṇava and bīja (oṁ + huṁ/juṁ + visarga-bearing third) is asserted to destroy obstacles—especially death-fear and poverty.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as a vehicle of īśvara-śakti; disciplined practice (sādhana) transforms lived experience.

Application: Maintain accurate pronunciation (including visarga), learn from a competent teacher, and apply the triad as part of a protective japa/arcana regimen, especially in times of fear, illness, or financial distress.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: mantra-prayoga (ritual phonetic sequence)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: mantra-bīja and kavaca usage in protective rites; Garuda Purana: Mṛtyuñjaya arcana sequence continues in adjacent verses

FAQs

What is the importance of this mantra-style instruction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a specific sequence of sacred syllables (Oṁ, huṁ/juṁ, and a visarga-ending utterance) as a protective practice, framed as capable of countering forces associated with death and poverty.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing protective recitation against 'mṛtyu' (death), it reflects the text’s broader concern with safeguarding life and ensuring auspicious conditions that support dharma and proper end-of-life rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a disciplined recitation with correct pronunciation (especially the visarga ḥ), ideally learned from a qualified teacher, and pair it with ethical living and prescribed duties rather than treating it as a substitute for dharma.