Shloka 12
Śiva-taught Mantra-Weapons, Mudrās, and Rakṣā-Rites
Removal of Kīlaka; Protection from Nāga, Viṣa, Graha, and Storms
तस्यैव दर्शनाद्दुष्टा मेघविद्युद्दिपादयः / राक्षसा भूतडाकिन्यः प्रद्रवन्ति दिशो दश
tasyaiva darśanādduṣṭā meghavidyuddipādayaḥ / rākṣasā bhūtaḍākinyaḥ pradravanti diśo daśa
At the very sight of him, the wicked—such as terrifying cloud-and-lightning apparitions—along with rākṣasas, bhūtas, and ḍākinīs, flee in all ten directions.
Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vainateya)
Concept: Adharma and malevolent forces cannot endure the presence (darśana) of consecrated power; purity and rightful rite create spiritual immunity.
Vedantic Theme: Sattva’s dominance over tamas/rajas in a sanctified field; fear is transmuted by alignment with the sacred.
Application: When facing fear or negativity, anchor attention in a sanctifying practice (mantra/ritual focus) that restores inner steadiness and boundaries.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: liminal-ritual-space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana ritual-protection passages describing bhūta-rākṣasa-nivāraṇa and dik-bandhana motifs (same ritual cluster)
FAQs
This verse frames divine presence (or the presence of a spiritually powerful, dharmic being) as a direct protection—malevolent subtle entities cannot endure that sight and therefore flee.
By emphasizing that hostile subtle forces are repelled by spiritual radiance, it implies that purity, dharma, and divine shelter reduce fear and obstruction on liminal journeys (including post-death transitions described elsewhere in the text).
Cultivate dharmic living and steady devotion (smaraṇa of Viṣṇu, mantra, and sattvic conduct); the teaching is that inner alignment with the divine diminishes fear and the influence of harmful tendencies or “negative forces.”