Shloka 19

Śiva-taught Mantra-Weapons, Mudrās, and Rakṣā-Rites

Removal of Kīlaka; Protection from Nāga, Viṣa, Graha, and Storms

Devanagari script

ॐ क्ष्व (क्ष्णं) नमः / रक्तेन पटहे लिख्य शब्दात्रेसुर्ग्रहादयः / ॐ मर मर मारयमारय स्वाहा / ॐ हुं फट् स्वाहा

Transliteration

oṃ kṣva (kṣṇaṃ) namaḥ / raktena paṭahe likhya śabdātresurgrahādayaḥ / oṃ mara mara mārayamāraya svāhā / oṃ huṃ phaṭ svāhā

Translation

“Oṃ kṣva (or kṣṇam), namaḥ.” Having written these syllables on a drum with blood, its sound subdues hostile forces such as grahas and the like. “Oṃ mara mara; māraya māraya—svāhā.” “Oṃ huṃ—phaṭ—svāhā.”

Word by Word

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Mantra-invocation (मन्त्रारम्भ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव-उच्चारणम्; अव्यय

• क्ष्व: kṣva (seed syllable)
• क्ष्व: Mantra-component (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्ष्व (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय)
• Form: बीजाक्षरम्; अव्यय

• क्ष्णं: kṣṇaṃ (variant)
• क्ष्णं: Mantra-component (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्ष्णं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय)
• Form: बीजाक्षर-पर्याय/पाठभेद; अव्यय

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana (नमस्कारार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमः-शब्दः; अव्यय-प्रयोगः

• रक्तेन: with blood
• रक्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्

• पटहे: on a drum (kettle-drum)
• पटहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पटह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्

• लिख्य: having written
• लिख्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-प्राय (absolutive) ‘लिखित्वा’ इत्यर्थे; अव्ययभावः (having written)

• शब्दात्रेसुर्ग्रहादयः: the deva-seizers/afflictions etc. (by sound, here)
• शब्दात्रेसुर्ग्रहादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शब्द + अत्र + सुर + ग्रह + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पाठदोष/सन्धि-भेदसम्भावना; सम्भाव्य-विग्रहः: शब्द-अत्र (here by sound) + सुर-ग्रह-आदयः; पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Mantra-invocation (मन्त्रारम्भ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव-उच्चारणम्; अव्यय

• मर: die
• मर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; मन्त्रे आज्ञार्थः (die!)

• मर: die (again)
• मर: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (repetition)

• मारय: kill
• मारय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु) (णिच् causative: मारयति)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (cause to die/kill!)

• मारय: kill (again)
• मारय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु) (णिच्)
• Form: लोट्, परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (repetition)

• स्वाहा: svāhā
• स्वाहा: Mantra-ending (मन्त्रसमाप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: हविर्दान-समाप्त्यर्थक निपात

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Mantra-invocation (मन्त्रारम्भ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव-उच्चारणम्; अव्यय

• हुं: huṃ (seed syllable)
• हुं: Mantra-component (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हुं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय)
• Form: बीजाक्षरम्; अव्यय

• फट्: phaṭ (splitting/warding exclamation)
• फट्: Mantra-component (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: फट् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: उच्चाटन/विदारणार्थक निपात (mantric exclamation)

• स्वाहा: svāhā
• स्वाहा: Mantra-ending (मन्त्रसमाप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: हविर्दान-समाप्त्यर्थक निपात

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra as coercive power to restrain hostile influences; protection framed as ‘subduing’ rather than merely pacifying.

Vedantic Theme: Ambiguous: highlights potency of śabda-śakti; ethically, such force is traditionally bounded by adhikāra and niyama (right use).

Application: If interpreted within dharmic limits: employ protective sound/recitation to ‘break’ fear and intrusive influences; avoid harmful intent toward beings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground (śmaśāna-like/ugra setting implied by blood and drum)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.20.16-18, 1.20.20 (same sequence of protective/ugra measures)

Characters & Entities

• Grahas

FAQs

What is the importance of protective mantras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a warding (rakṣā) formula: specific bīja-syllables and forceful imperatives are used to repel or neutralize graha-type afflictions and other hostile influences.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; rather, it belongs to the Purana’s practical ritual layer, focusing on protection from obstructive forces that may trouble individuals in embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a textual record of apotropaic practice: for modern use, rely on orthodox guidance and prioritize sattvic disciplines (prayer, charity, self-restraint) rather than attempting aggressive mantra procedures without initiation.