Shloka 9

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

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

Devanagari script

गरुडोक्तैर्महामन्त्रैः कीलकानष्ट मन्त्रयेत् / एकविंशतिवाराणि क्षेत्रे तु निखनेन्निशि

Transliteration

garuḍoktairmahāmantraiḥ kīlakānaṣṭa mantrayet / ekaviṃśativārāṇi kṣetre tu nikhanenniśi

Translation

With the great mantras spoken by Garuḍa, one should consecrate the eight pegs to remove the ‘kīlaka’ obstruction. Repeating it twenty-one times, one should bury them in a field at night.

Word by Word

• गरुडोक्तैः: spoken by Garuḍa
• गरुडोक्तैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरुड-उक्त (प्रातिपदिक; गरुड + उक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीयाविभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (modifying महामन्त्रैः)

• महामन्त्रैः: with great mantras
• महामन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक; महा + मन्त्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीयाविभक्तिः (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचनम्

• कीलकान्: stakes/pegs
• कीलकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीयाविभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्

• अष्ट: eight
• अष्ट: Visheshana (Quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीयाविभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्; संख्यावाचक विशेषणम् (for कीलकान्; metrical/orthographic variant of अष्टौ)

• मन्त्रयेत्: should enchant/consecrate
• मन्त्रयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• एकविंशतिवाराणि: twenty-one times
• एकविंशतिवाराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-विंशति-वार (प्रातिपदिक; एक + विंशति + वार)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीयाविभक्तिः (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्; संख्या-तत्पुरुषः (twenty-one times)

• क्षेत्रे: in the field
• क्षेत्रे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• निखनेत्: should bury/dig in
• निखनेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-खन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमीविभक्तिः (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific count (21) and correct timing (night) as karma-kāṇḍa precision to remove kīlaka (obstruction) and stabilize protective efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Efficacy in the empirical realm depends on niyama (rule) and saṅkalpa; disciplined action shapes outcomes within prakṛti.

Application: Consecrate the eight pegs with Garuḍa’s mahāmantras; repeat 21 times; bury/install in the field at night to remove ‘kīlaka’ obstruction and secure protection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: agricultural land / nocturnal rite site

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.20.8 (eight khadira pegs); Garuda Purana 1.20.7 (triloka-protecting mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa

FAQs

What is the importance of kīlaka removal in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats kīlaka as a mantric/ritual ‘block’ that prevents a mantra or rite from bearing fruit, and prescribes Garuḍa-taught mahāmantras as the remedy.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it presents a remedial ritual aimed at removing obstacles, reflecting the text’s broader concern with unseen impediments and their pacification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It emphasizes disciplined repetition (a fixed count like 21) and correct procedure; in modern practice, such rites should be done under qualified guidance rather than improvised.