Shloka 24

Śiva’s Narasiṃha-Stotra and the Pacification of the Mātṛgaṇas

Devanagari script

जपेदिदं सन्ततदुः खजालं जहाति नीहारमिवांशुमाली / समातृवर्गस्य करोति मूर्तिं यदा तदा तिष्ठति तत्समीपे

Transliteration

japedidaṃ santataduḥ khajālaṃ jahāti nīhāramivāṃśumālī / samātṛvargasya karoti mūrtiṃ yadā tadā tiṣṭhati tatsamīpe

Translation

Whoever repeatedly recites this casts off the unbroken web of sorrow, just as the sun, Aṁśumālī, dispels mist. Whenever one fashions an image of the maternal lineage (mātṛ-varga), at that very time the blessed presence stands near it.

Word by Word

• जपेत्: should repeat (chant)
• जपेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सन्ततदुःखजालम्: a continuous net of sorrows
• सन्ततदुःखजालम्: Karma (Object/apposition to इदम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तत (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + जाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (सन्ततं दुःखानां जालम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• जहाति: abandons, leaves behind
• जहाति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नीहारम्: mist, fog
• नीहारम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• अंशुमाली: the sun (garlanded with rays)
• अंशुमाली: Karta (Subject of simile clause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंशु (प्रातिपदिक) + मालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (अंशूनां माली = किरणमालायुक्तः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समातृवर्गस्य: of/for the group of Mothers (together)
• समातृवर्गस्य: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह) + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (मातृवर्गः सह/सम् = ‘along with the group of Mothers’); पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• करोति: makes
• करोति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मूर्तिम्: form, manifestation
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (correlative)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (correlative)

• तिष्ठति: stands, remains
• तिष्ठति: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्समीपे: near him/that (one)
• तत्समीपे: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: तत्पुरुष (तस्य समीपे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sustained japa cuts through duḥkha-jāla (web of sorrow) by the steady presence of the Lord; remembrance and sacred representation invite proximity of grace.

Vedantic Theme: Removal of avidyā-like ‘mist’ by tejas (inner illumination); īśvara-sannidhya (divine nearness) as experiential fruit of devotion.

Application: When overwhelmed, do repetitive japa (fixed count) until the mind clears; pair with a simple sacred focus (image/altar) to stabilize attention and evoke presence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.231.22 (phalaśruti); Garuda Purana 1.231.23 (dhyāna)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Mātṛvarga (maternal lineage/ancestors)

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents japa as a direct remedy for persistent grief, describing it as removing an ongoing “net of sorrow” the way sunlight clears mist.

How does this verse connect recitation with ancestor-related practice?

It links recitation with reverence toward the maternal lineage, stating that when a form or image for the mother’s kin is made, a sacred presence is said to remain near it.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain steady recitation for inner steadiness during loss, and perform ancestor remembrance—especially for maternal ancestors—with sincerity and regularity.