Shloka 7

Devanagari script

अर्चयित्वा समं रुद्र हरिमावाह्य संयजेत् / मन्त्रैरेभिर्महाप्राज्ञः सर्वपापप्रणाशनैः

Transliteration

arcayitvā samaṃ rudra harimāvāhya saṃyajet / mantrairebhirmahāprājñaḥ sarvapāpapraṇāśanaiḥ

Translation

Having duly worshipped Rudra, and having invoked Hari, the very wise should perform the rite of worship with these mantras that destroy all sins.

Word by Word

• arcayitvā: having worshipped
• arcayitvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययभाव) = gerund/absolutive; धातु: अर्च् = to worship; अर्थः ‘अर्चयित्वा’ = having worshipped

• samam: equally, together
• samam: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘समम्’ = equally, together

• rudra: O Rudra
• rudra: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

• harim: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• harim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• āvāhya: having invoked
• āvāhya: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + vah (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (अव्ययभाव) = gerund; धातु: वह् (आ + वह्) ‘आवाहयति’ = to invoke/bring near; अर्थः ‘आवाह्य’ = having invoked

• saṃyajet: should worship/perform worship
• saṃyajet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ + yaj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: यज् = to worship/sacrifice; उपसर्ग: सम्

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ebhiḥ: with these
• ebhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• mahāprājñaḥ: the very wise person
• mahāprājñaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + prājña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् प्राज्ञः’

• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanaiḥ: that destroy all sins
• sarva-pāpa-praṇāśanaiḥ: Karana (Instrument qualifier/करण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + pāpa + praṇāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्वपापाणां प्रणाशनाः’ (मन्त्रैः इति विशेषणम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-guided worship (kriyā) purifies pāpa; wisdom (mahāprājña) is shown by performing rites with correct invocation and intent, integrating Rudra-honor with Hari-upāsanā.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi through karma-yoga/arcana leading toward higher realization; īśvara as purifier when approached with śraddhā and right method.

Application: If practicing a ritual tradition, keep it non-sectarian and disciplined: honor all revered forms appropriately, then focus the main upāsanā; use mantras consistently as a moral-psychological reset toward better conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual setting (pūjā arena)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30.4 (instruction to worship Śārṅgiṇa’s āsana); Garuda Purana 1.30.8 (Hari/Viṣṇu āvāhana mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of sin-destroying mantras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames specific mantras as instruments of purification (sarva-pāpa-praṇāśana), to be used within a properly performed worship rite after invoking Hari and honoring Rudra.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing purification through correct worship and mantra, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that ethical and ritual cleansing reduces the burdens of pāpa that obstruct auspicious post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform worship with sincerity and correct intention, using traditional mantras as aids for self-purification, and cultivate reverence that harmonizes devotion rather than sectarian conflict.