Shloka 3

Pulaka-Lakṣaṇa (Auspicious Horripilation), Sacred Designs, and Inauspicious Omens

Devanagari script

शङ्खाब्जभृङ्गार्कविचित्रभङ्गा सूत्रैरुर् (व्य) पेताः परमाः पवित्राः / मङ्गल्ययुक्ता बहुभक्तिचित्रा वृद्धिप्रदास्ते पुलका भवन्ति

Transliteration

śaṅkhābjabhṛṅgārkavicitrabhaṅgā sūtrairur (vya) petāḥ paramāḥ pavitrāḥ / maṅgalyayuktā bahubhakticitrā vṛddhipradāste pulakā bhavanti

Translation

Adorned with varied designs of conch, lotus, bee, and sun, and strung together with sacred threads, they are supremely pure. Auspicious in nature and displaying many forms of bhakti, those sacred marks (or ornaments) are called ‘pulakā’ and grant increase and prosperity.

Word by Word

• शङ्खाब्जभृङ्गार्कविचित्रभङ्गाः: having variegated patterns like conch, lotus, bee, and sun
• शङ्खाब्जभृङ्गार्कविचित्रभङ्गाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख + अब्ज + भृङ्ग + अर्क + विचित्र + भङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक-समूह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—शङ्ख-अब्ज-भृङ्ग-अर्क-इव विचित्रा भङ्गा येषाम्

• सूत्रैः: with threads
• सूत्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• उरुपेताः: well-endowed, richly furnished
• उरुपेताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरु (प्रातिपदिक) + उप + √इ (धातु) → उपेत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय—उरवः उपेताः (well-provided/abundantly endowed)

• परमाः: supreme
• परमाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पवित्राः: pure, sacred
• पवित्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• मङ्गल्ययुक्ताः: endowed with auspiciousness
• मङ्गल्ययुक्ताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मङ्गल्य + युक्त (√युज् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—मङ्गल्येन युक्ताः

• बहुभक्तिचित्राः: varied with many devotional/ornamental features
• बहुभक्तिचित्राः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + भक्ति + चित्र (प्रातिपदिक-त्रय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—बह्वीभिः भक्तिभिः चित्राः (variegated by many devotions/ornaments)

• वृद्धिप्रदाः: granting prosperity/increase
• वृद्धिप्रदाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृद्धि + प्रद (√दा + क)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः—वृद्धिं प्रददति इति (giving increase)

• ते: those
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पुलकाः: pulakas
• पुलकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अपपद-सम्बन्ध (ते पुलकाः)

• भवन्ति: are/become
• भवन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mangala-chihna: sacred motifs and threaded adornments/marks, when devotionally borne, are purifying and prosperity-giving.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti expressed through symbols (linga/chihna) as upaya; purity (shaucha) and sattva supported by sacred remembrance.

Application: Adopt devotional symbols with sincerity (not vanity); keep them clean; let external marks reinforce inner discipline and remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vishnu-symbolism (shankha, padma) and mangala-lakshana discussions

FAQs

What is the importance of auspicious symbols like conch and lotus in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents such motifs as markers of purity and auspiciousness, linked with devotion and believed to support spiritual and worldly ‘vṛddhi’ (increase/prosperity).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on dharma and ritual conduct?

Placed in the Ācāra Kāṇḍa, it frames ritual objects/marks as not merely decorative but sanctifying—valuable when joined with devotion (bhakti) and auspicious intent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose devotional practices and sacred symbols with reverence and ethical intent—treating them as reminders of purity, discipline, and auspicious living rather than mere ornamentation.