Shloka 38

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing Hari with the Pavitra

Devanagari script

विष्वक्सेनं ततः प्रार्च्य सुरुमर्घ्यादिभिर्हर / देवस्याग्रे पठेन्मन्त्रं कृताञ्जलिपुटः स्थितः

Transliteration

viṣvaksenaṃ tataḥ prārcya surumarghyādibhirhara / devasyāgre paṭhenmantraṃ kṛtāñjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

Then, O Hara, having duly worshipped Viṣvaksena with fragrant offerings such as arghya and the like, standing before the Lord with folded palms, one should recite the mantra.

Word by Word

• विष्वक्सेनम्: Viṣvaksena (a deity/attendant of Viṣṇu)
• विष्वक्सेनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्वक्सेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Sequential adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/कालवाचक (then/thereafter)

• प्रार्च्य: having worshipped
• प्रार्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य — ‘having worshipped’

• सुरुम: fragrant substance/incense (suru)
• सुरुम: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (द्रव्यवाचक; सुगन्धिद्रव्य)

• अर्घ्यादिभिः: with arghya and other offerings
• अर्घ्यादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन — ‘अर्घ्य-आदि’ (with arghya etc.)

• हर: take/offer (you should)
• हर: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘take/offer!’

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अग्रे: in front (of)
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति; एकवचन — अधिकरण (in front/presence)

• पठेत्: should recite
• पठेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘he should recite’

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• कृताञ्जलिपुटः: with hands joined in reverence
• कृताञ्जलिपुटः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन — ‘कृत-अञ्जलि-पुट’ (having hands folded as a hollow)

• स्थितः: standing
• स्थितः: Karta (Agent as participial predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन — ‘standing’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction), within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Approach to the Lord is mediated by proper honoring of divine attendants (Viṣvaksena) and disciplined mantra-recitation with humility (kṛtāñjali).

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti expressed as śaraṇāgati and niyama; removal of vighna through aligned devotion.

Application: Before major spiritual work, invoke protection and obstacle-removal (through Viṣvaksena/Gaṇeśa per one’s tradition), then recite mantra with focused posture and reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temple threshold/inner sanctum approach

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (arcana sequence culminating in mantra-pāṭha)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣvaksena
• Hara (Śiva)
• Deva (the Lord/deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Viṣvaksena in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse places Viṣvaksena worship as a preparatory step—honouring the Lord’s attendant before mantra-recitation, indicating proper order and removal of ritual impediments.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual discipline (pūjā, arghya, mantra with añjali) that supports dharma-based rites often connected in the Garuḍa Purāṇa with post-death observances and spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any serious prayer or rite, begin with a brief, orderly worship and recite mantras with reverence and focused posture (standing, hands folded), prioritizing sincerity and correct sequence.