Shloka 2

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

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

Devanagari script

एतैरेवायुधैर्युद्धे मन्त्रैः शत्रूञ्जयेन्नृपः / मन्त्रोद्धारः पद्मपात्रे आदि पूर्वादिके लिखेत्

Transliteration

etairevāyudhairyuddhe mantraiḥ śatrūñjayennṛpaḥ / mantroddhāraḥ padmapātre ādi pūrvādike likhet

Translation

With these very weapons, together with the accompanying mantras, a king should conquer his enemies in battle. The extracted (collected) mantra should be written on a lotus-leaf vessel, beginning with the first syllable and proceeding in proper order.

Word by Word

• एतैः: with these
• एतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• आयुधैः: by weapons
• आयुधैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (neuter instrumental plural)

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter locative singular)

• मन्त्रैः: by mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine instrumental plural)

• शत्रून्: enemies
• शत्रून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (masculine accusative plural)

• जयेत्: should conquer
• जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (3rd person singular)

• नृपः: the king
• नृपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• मन्त्रोद्धारः: extraction/derivation of the mantra
• मन्त्रोद्धारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• पद्मपात्रे: in a lotus-leaf vessel/plate
• पद्मपात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter locative singular)

• आदि: first; beginning
• आदि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘आदि’ = beginning/first; here adverbial (indeclinable)

• पूर्वादिके: in the eastern etc. (directional section)
• पूर्वादिके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (neuter locative singular; “in the eastern etc. (directions)”)

• लिखेत्: should write
• लिखेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (3rd person singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (krama, uddhāra, lekhana) is integral to mantra efficacy; power is tied to method.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa pragmatics: results depend on saṅkalpa + vidhi; agency operates within ordered practice.

Application: If using sacred formulas, maintain accuracy: correct sequence, clean materials, and disciplined repetition; avoid improvisation in formal rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: protective rites and mantra-vidhis appear across ancillary sections (rakṣā, prayoga traditions).

Characters & Entities

• Nṛpa (King)
• Śatrus (Enemies)
• Mantras
• Āyudhas (Weapons)

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-uddhāra (mantroddhāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats mantroddhāra as the correct extraction/arrangement of a mantra before use—implying that efficacy depends on proper ordering and careful inscription, not mere recitation.

How does this verse relate to spiritual practice rather than only warfare?

By pairing weapons with mantras and prescribing disciplined writing in correct sequence, it presents mantra as a regulated sacred technology—useful for protection and order, not simply aggression.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach any mantra practice with correctness: learn the exact text, pronunciation, and sequence from a reliable source, and use it ethically for protection and self-discipline rather than harm.