Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

नाक्रामन्ति च तच्छायां स्वप्ने ऽपि विषपन्नगाः / यस्तु लक्षं जपेच्चास्याः स दृष्ट्वा(ष्ट्या) नाशयेद्विषम्

Transliteration

nākrāmanti ca tacchāyāṃ svapne 'pi viṣapannagāḥ / yastu lakṣaṃ japeccāsyāḥ sa dṛṣṭvā(ṣṭyā) nāśayedviṣam

Translation

Even venomous serpents do not approach its very shadow—not even in a dream. And whoever recites this (mantra/hymn) a hundred thousand times can, merely by sight (or by touch), destroy poison.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• आक्रामन्ति: they step on/approach
• आक्रामन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• तत्-छायाम्: that shadow
• तत्-छायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘सा छाया’ इति कर्मधारय

• स्वप्ने: in a dream
• स्वप्ने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावन/अपि-निपात (even/also)

• विष-पन्नगाः: poisonous snakes
• विष-पन्नगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक) + पन्नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘विषस्य पन्नगाः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तु: however
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• लक्षम्: a lakh (100,000)
• लक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; संख्या-नाम (one hundred thousand)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• अस्याः: of this (vidyā/mantra)
• अस्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having seen’ (or by sight)

• नाशयेत्: should destroy/remove
• नाशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश्/नाशय् (धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• विषम्: poison
• विषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Medical Ayurveda

Dosha: Pitta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sustained japa (lakṣa-japa) generates siddhi-like efficacy: protection from serpents and neutralization of poison by mere presence (dṛṣṭi/sparśa).

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-śakti as upāsanā-phala within empirical life; disciplined repetition (abhyāsa) yields transformative capacity.

Application: Commit to long-term, counted repetition for mastery; treat mantra as a disciplined practice rather than a one-time utterance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/liminal protective perimeter (shadow-field)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.19.20 (mantra-snāna for poison); Garuda Purana 1.19.23 (ear-whisper mantra for bite)

Characters & Entities

• Vishapannagas (venomous serpents)

FAQs

What is the importance of one-lakh (lakṣa) japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents lakṣa-japa (100,000 repetitions) as the threshold for attaining efficacy (siddhi) of the stated protective power—here, the capacity to neutralize poison and ward off venomous serpents.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; rather, it teaches a protective, this-worldly application of sacred recitation—removing fear and danger (like poison) that obstruct dharma and ritual life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes disciplined repetition (japa), faith, and steadiness: sustained practice is portrayed as producing protective strength—encouraging consistent spiritual discipline rather than panic in crisis.