Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

एवं शिवाय कृष्णाय ब्रह्मणे च गणाय च / चण्डिकायै सरस्वत्यै महालक्ष्मादि पूजयेत्

Transliteration

evaṃ śivāya kṛṣṇāya brahmaṇe ca gaṇāya ca / caṇḍikāyai sarasvatyai mahālakṣmādi pūjayet

Translation

Thus one should worship Śiva, Kṛṣṇa, Brahmā, and Gaṇa (Gaṇeśa), and also Caṇḍikā, Sarasvatī, Mahālakṣmī, and the other deities.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• कृष्णाय: to Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णाय: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणे: to Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणे: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination particle)

• गणाय: to Gaṇa (Gaṇeśa/attendant deity)
• गणाय: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/coordination particle)

• चण्डिकायै: to Caṇḍikā
• चण्डिकायै: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• सरस्वत्यै: to Sarasvatī
• सरस्वत्यै: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarasvatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• महालक्ष्मादि: Mahālakṣmī and others
• महालक्ष्मादि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahālakṣmī + ādi (प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहार), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास (ādi = 'etc.' as head)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional worship offered to multiple deities as an auspicious, harmonizing rite.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-upāsanā as a preparatory purifier (citta-śuddhi) supporting dharma and higher realization.

Application: In daily/occasional pūjā, honor the stated deities in sequence with offerings (flowers, incense, lamp), maintaining reverence and ritual cleanliness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/ācāra sections): general devatā-pūjā preliminaries before mantra/śrāddha instructions (contextual parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Kṛṣṇa
• Brahmā
• Gaṇa (Gaṇeśa)
• Caṇḍikā
• Sarasvatī
• Mahālakṣmī

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping multiple deities in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a broad, inclusive pūjā framework—honouring key deities (Śiva, Kṛṣṇa, Brahmā, Gaṇeśa and the Devīs) as part of proper āchāra (religious observance) and completeness of worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct religious observance (pūjā/ācāra), it supports the cultivation of merit (puṇya) and spiritual discipline, which the Garuḍa Purāṇa connects with favourable post-death outcomes in its broader teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a consistent worship practice that includes reverence for both Śiva and Viṣṇu traditions and the Devī forms, with Gaṇeśa and Sarasvatī for auspiciousness and right knowledge—prioritizing sincerity and regularity.