Shloka 16
Ṛtucaryā, Āhāra–Aushadha Prayoga, Viṣa-haraṇa, and Mantra Procedures
ॐ नमो भगवते जलं स्तम्भय सं सं सं केक केकः चरचर / जलस्तम्भनमन्त्रो ऽयं जलं स्तम्भयते शिव !
oṃ namo bhagavate jalaṃ stambhaya saṃ saṃ saṃ keka kekaḥ caracara / jalastambhanamantro 'yaṃ jalaṃ stambhayate śiva !
Om—salutations to the Blessed Lord. “Stop the water, stop—saṃ saṃ saṃ—keka keka; upon the moving and the unmoving!” This is the water-stilling mantra; O Śiva, by it the water is made motionless.
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda a mantra-prayoga within the Garuda Purana’s instructional discourse)
Concept: Mantra as a causal instrument (kriyā) producing tangible effects when properly invoked.
Vedantic Theme: Shakti as operative within prakriti; efficacy depends on sanctioned vidhi and focused saṅkalpa rather than mere speech.
Application: Use only within a disciplined ritual context; cultivate steadiness of mind and clarity of intention when reciting mantras.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.182 (mantra/occult-vidhi cluster around stambhana, vashikarana, and protective rites)
FAQs
This verse presents a specific prayoga-mantra intended to immobilize or still water, illustrating the text’s ritual-technical layer where sound (mantra) is treated as an operative spiritual force.
It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to an instructional section on mantras and ritual applications, showing that the Purana also transmits practical rites alongside afterlife teachings.
Use it as a reminder that sacred recitation is traditionally approached with discipline, clarity of intent, and reverence; for actual ritual practice, one should follow a qualified tradition/teacher rather than improvising.