Shloka 21

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

देवस्य मूलमन्त्रेणेत्येवं विद्धि वृषध्वज / मन्त्राञ्छृणु त्रिनेत्र त्वं कथ्यमानान्मयाधुना

Transliteration

devasya mūlamantreṇetyevaṃ viddhi vṛṣadhvaja / mantrāñchṛṇu trinetra tvaṃ kathyamānānmayādhunā

Translation

Know it thus—by means of the deity’s root mantra, O Bull-bannered One. O Three-eyed Lord, listen now to the mantras as I am about to expound them.

Word by Word

• devasya: of the god/deity
• devasya: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• mūlamantreṇa: with the root mantra
• mūlamantreṇa: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūlamantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle

• evam: so/in this way
• evam: null
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb

• viddhi: know/understand
• viddhi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Singular

• vṛṣadhvaja: O Bull-bannered one (Shiva)
• vṛṣadhvaja: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣadhvaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• mantrān: mantras
• mantrān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• śṛṇu: hear/listen
• śṛṇu: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Lot (Imperative), Parasmaipada, Madhyama Purusha (2nd), Singular

• trinetra: O Three-eyed one
• trinetra: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: trinetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (Sambodhana), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kathyamānān: being told/narrated
• kathyamānān: Visheshana (Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: Present Passive Participle (Shanach), Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• adhunā: now
• adhunā: Adhikaraṇa (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adhunā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of time

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating/instructing)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra as the ‘root’ (mula) key to deity-access; right knowledge of method and mantra is essential for efficacious worship.

Vedantic Theme: Shabda-pramana and upasana-vidhi: sacred sound as a means to approach Brahman through saguna form.

Application: Before detailed angamantras, establish the mula-mantra as the central axis; receive/learn mantras with attentive listening and correct pronunciation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: dialogue setting (guru-to-deva or narrator-to-Mahadeva)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.22 (mantra corpus that follows); Garuda Purana 1.31.19-20 (ritual preliminaries)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva (Vṛṣadhvaja, Trinetra)

FAQs

What is the importance of a mūla-mantra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights the mūla-mantra as the foundational means of approaching a deity—implying that correct ritual or spiritual practice begins with the primary mantra and its proper transmission.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by foregrounding mantras and correct instruction, it points to the Garuda Purana’s broader emphasis that spiritual disciplines (mantra, rite, right knowledge) support purification and auspicious outcomes beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Seek authentic learning of foundational mantras (with correct pronunciation and intent), and treat spiritual practice as structured discipline—listening, learning, and applying with clarity rather than improvisation.