Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

यद्रृहे शर्करा जप्ता क्षिप्ता नागास्त्यजन्ति तत् / सप्तलक्षस्य जप्याद्धि सिद्धिः प्राप्ता सुरासुरैः

Transliteration

yadrṛhe śarkarā japtā kṣiptā nāgāstyajanti tat / saptalakṣasya japyāddhi siddhiḥ prāptā surāsuraiḥ

Translation

In whichever house the “Śarkarā” mantra is recited and then cast forth as a charged rite, the nāgas abandon that place. Indeed, by repeating it seven lakṣas (700,000 times), its effective power has been attained—even by Devas and Asuras.

Word by Word

• यत्-गृहे: in which house
• यत्-गृहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘यत्’ as relative adjective: in which house

• शर्करा: sugar; gravel (here: sugar)
• शर्करा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर्करा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जप्ता: (over which) has been recited
• जप्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with ‘शर्करा’ (recited over)

• क्षिप्ता: thrown/scattered
• क्षिप्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) → क्षिप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with ‘शर्करा’ (thrown/scattered)

• नागाः: nāgas; serpents
• नागाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• तत्: that (place/house)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun referring to the place/house

• सप्त-लक्षस्य: of seven lakhs (700,000)
• सप्त-लक्षस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (सप्त लक्षाणि = seven lakhs) used as a numeral aggregate

• जप्यात्: from/through recitation
• जप्यात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु) → जप्य (भाव्य/कर्मणि) + तसिल्?; here as ablative of action-noun ‘जप्य’
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; ‘जप्यात्’ = from/through the prescribed recitation (japa)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle: indeed)

• सिद्धिः: success; attainment
• सिद्धिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्राप्ता: was obtained
• प्राप्ता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agreeing with ‘सिद्धिः’ (was obtained)

• सुर-असुरैः: by gods and demons
• सुर-असुरैः: Kartr (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (सुराश्च असुराश्च)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kriyā (japa + kṣepa/‘casting’) produces siddhi when performed with sufficient repetition and correctness.

Vedantic Theme: Causal efficacy within prakṛti: disciplined action (karma) and speech (vāk) yield predictable results in the ritual domain.

Application: If following this tradition, combine recitation with a consecrated ‘casting’ act; recognize that large japa counts signify long-term discipline rather than instant results.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: domestic space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.19.17 (thousand-mantra japa); Garuda Purana 1.19.19 (lotus writing/yantra-like procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Nagas
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the importance of the “Śarkarā” japa mentioned in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents “Śarkarā” as a protective mantra-prayoga: when recited and ritually applied, it is said to drive away nāgas (serpents) from a dwelling.

How does this verse explain mantra siddhi (accomplishment)?

It states that siddhi is attained through sustained repetition—specifically seven lakhs of japa—emphasizing disciplined practice as the basis of efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It highlights consistency and restraint in any spiritual practice: steady repetition and correct application (prayoga) are portrayed as more important than sporadic effort.