Shloka 6

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

ॐ कारयुक्ता देवस्य शिखा ज्ञेया वृषध्वज / ॐ क्षैं कवचाय हुं वै कवचं परिकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

oṃ kārayuktā devasya śikhā jñeyā vṛṣadhvaja / oṃ kṣaiṃ kavacāya huṃ vai kavacaṃ parikīrtitam

Translation

O Bull-bannered Lord, “Oṃ” joined with the syllable “kā” is to be known as the deity’s śikhā (crest/topknot). And “Oṃ kṣaiṃ—kavacāya huṃ” is declared to be the protective armor (kavaca).

Word by Word

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambandha (Invocation/मन्त्रारम्भ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव

• कारयुक्ता: joined with the syllable ‘kāra’
• कारयुक्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; (kāra = syllable/letter ‘kāra’)

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• शिखा: the tuft/crown (śikhā)
• शिखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञेया: is to be known
• ज्ञेया: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: to be known)

• वृषध्वज: O Bull-bannered one
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambandha (Invocation/मन्त्रारम्भ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव

• क्षैं: kṣaiṃ
• क्षैं: Sambandha (Mantra element/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षैं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; बीजाक्षर

• कवचाय: to the armor (kavaca)
• कवचाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• हुम्: huṃ
• हुम्: Sambandha (Ritual utterance/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हुम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; मन्त्र-बीज/उच्चारण (mantric exclamation)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• कवचम्: the armor (kavaca)
• कवचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्तित (कृदन्त; √कीर्त्/√कृत्? here √कीर्त् (धातु) caus./denom. + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (is proclaimed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-kavaca as protective discipline: spiritual safeguarding through regulated practice and purity.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and saṃskāra: protective rites stabilize mind and senses, supporting higher pursuit.

Application: Use kavaca-mantra before worship/meditation; treat it as a commitment to ethical restraint and mental guarding, not only occult protection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.5 (aṅga-mantras); Garuda Purana 1.34.7 (netra/astrā mantras)

Characters & Entities

• Deity (devasya)
• Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva epithet)

FAQs

What is the importance of kavacha (protective armor) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames specific bīja-mantras as a spiritual “armor,” indicating mantra-based protection as part of ritualized practice (nyāsa/kavaca) for safeguarding the practitioner.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing protective mantra-rites, it reflects the Purāṇic view that disciplined ritual and dharmic practice provide spiritual safeguarding, which supports one’s well-being and auspicious transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder that sacred recitation is traditionally paired with ethical discipline and focused intention—treating mantra as inner protection against fear, agitation, and harmful impulses.