Shloka 12

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

यावच्च पौरुषं सूक्तं तावत्कालं हि तिष्ठति / पश्चाज्जप्त्वा महामन्त्रं वेङ्कटेशाभिधं परम्

Transliteration

yāvacca pauruṣaṃ sūktaṃ tāvatkālaṃ hi tiṣṭhati / paścājjaptvā mahāmantraṃ veṅkaṭeśābhidhaṃ param

Translation

For as long as the Pauruṣa Sūkta is being recited, for that duration one should remain steadfast. Thereafter, one should chant the supreme Mahāmantra known as “Veṅkaṭeśa.”

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative indeclinable (यावत्-अव्यय) meaning 'as long as/so long'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• pauruṣam: Pauruṣa (pertaining to Puruṣa)
• pauruṣam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies 'sūktam'

• sūktam: hymn
• sūktam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tāvat: for that long
• tāvat: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative indeclinable (तावत्-अव्यय) meaning 'for that long'

• kālam: time, duration
• kālam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; duration-accusative

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic

• tiṣṭhati: remains, stands
• tiṣṭhati: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) meaning 'afterwards'

• japtvā: having recited
• japtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), having recited

• mahāmantram: the great mantra
• mahāmantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: mahā + mantra

• veṅkaṭeśābhidham: called ‘Venkateśa’
• veṅkaṭeśābhidham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veṅkaṭeśa-abhidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies 'mahāmantram'; tatpuruṣa: veṅkaṭeśa + abhidha ('named Venkateśa')

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies 'mahāmantram'

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-krama and niyama: remain steady for the duration of Purusha Sūkta, then chant the supreme Veṅkaṭeśa mantra.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahma upāsanā supported by Vedic revelation; nāma as a direct means to citta-śuddhi and īśvara-smṛti.

Application: Use timed recitation: complete a Vedic hymn without interruption, then transition to iṣṭa-devatā nāma/mantra japa with full attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain/temple tirtha (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vaiṣṇava-nāma-mahātmyas and mantra-japa as purifiers (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa
• Veṅkaṭeśa (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of reciting the Pauruṣa Sūkta in the Garuda Purana context?

This verse treats the Pauruṣa Sūkta as a timed, structured recitation that prepares the practitioner for subsequent mantra-japa, indicating a prescribed sequence in worship.

Why does the verse instruct chanting the Veṅkaṭeśa Mahāmantra after the Sūkta?

It presents Veṅkaṭeśa (a form-name of Vishnu) as the “supreme” mantra-focus to be taken up after the hymn, implying culmination of praise (sūkta) into concentrated japa (mantra).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain disciplined sequencing in spiritual practice: complete a hymn/recitation attentively for its full duration, then transition into focused mantra repetition without haste.