Shloka 17

Prāṇeśvara Garuḍa-Mantra: Timing (Velā), Nāga-Grahas, Nyāsa, Haṃsa-Rite, and Viṣa-Cikitsā

Devanagari script

गृहे विविखिता यत्र तन्नागाः संत्यजन्ति च / सहस्रमन्त्रं जप्त्वा तु कर्णे सूत्रं धृतं तथा

Transliteration

gṛhe vivikhitā yatra tannāgāḥ saṃtyajanti ca / sahasramantraṃ japtvā tu karṇe sūtraṃ dhṛtaṃ tathā

Translation

In a house where such rites are properly performed, the nāgas depart. Having recited the “thousand-mantra” (a thousand repetitions), one should also wear the protective thread at the ear.

Word by Word

• गृहे: in a house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विविखिता: inscribed/marked (as prescribed)
• विविखिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + विखि/विख् (धातु, uncertain) → विविखित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; here qualifying an implied ‘रेखा/विद्या/क्रिया’ etc. (something ‘inscribed/marked’)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location marker/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• तत्-नागाः: those nāgas (serpents)
• तत्-नागाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘तत्’ as demonstrative adjective with ‘नागाः’

• सं-त्यजन्ति: abandon; leave
• सं-त्यजन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• सहस्र-मन्त्रम्: the thousand(-fold) mantra
• सहस्र-मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सहस्राणां मन्त्रः / सहस्रसंख्यकः मन्त्रः)

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/absolutive): having recited

• तु: then; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• कर्णे: in/on the ear
• कर्णे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सूत्रम्: a thread; cord
• सूत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• धृतम्: held/worn
• धृतम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) → धृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here predicative with ‘सूत्रम्’ (held/worn)

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus/likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual order (vidhi) + sustained japa + protective amulet/thread establishes rakṣā and removes harm.

Vedantic Theme: Śraddhā and niyama harness mind and speech; efficacy is framed as lawful within dharma (ṛta-like order).

Application: Perform the prescribed rite correctly; complete a thousandfold japa; wear a protective thread (rakṣā-sūtra) at/near the ear as an apotropaic marker.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: domestic space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.19.15-16 (nyāsa preliminaries); Garuda Purana 1.19.18 (mantra casting and large japa counts)

Characters & Entities

• Nāgas

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-japa for protection in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents mantra-japa (specifically a thousandfold recitation) as a ritual means of protection that causes harmful influences—here symbolized by nāgas—to depart.

How does this verse explain practical ritual measures in daily life?

It links correct household ritual performance with tangible outcomes (removal of nāgas) and prescribes a concrete practice: repeating a mantra a thousand times and wearing a protective thread at the ear.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain disciplined spiritual practice (regular japa) and follow tradition-based protective observances with sincerity and cleanliness, emphasizing steadiness and right conduct in the home.