Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 97
Multi-form Manifestations, Indra–Kāma Incarnations, Pravāha, and the Twofold Buddhi
Sense-Discipline and Exclusive Refuge in Viṣṇu
तासं हस्तं पुस्तके स्तापयित्वा त्राहित्येवं तन्मुखैर्वाचयस्व / त्वं खड्गदेवं पूजयस्वाद्यभर्तस्तत्सेवकान्पूजयस्वाद्य सम्यक्
tāsaṃ hastaṃ pustake stāpayitvā trāhityevaṃ tanmukhairvācayasva / tvaṃ khaḍgadevaṃ pūjayasvādyabhartastatsevakānpūjayasvādya samyak
Placing their hands upon the sacred book, have them recite from their own mouths the words, “Protect (us)!” In the same manner, O master, worship the Sword-deity today, and properly honor his attendants as well.
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinataputra)
Concept: Protection is ritually enacted through śabda (recitation), śāstra-sparśa (touching the sacred text), and honoring protective deities and their attendants.
Vedantic Theme: Power of mantra/śabda as a vehicle of intention; dharmic protection through sanctioned ritual rather than private violence.
Application: Use formal vows/affirmations and community-backed procedures for protection; honor protectors/guardians (ethical security) and those who serve them.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: ritual enclosure
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.28.96 (preparatory domestic discipline); Garuda Purana 3.28.98-100 (continued protective/Śaiva-martial worship sequence)
FAQs
This verse frames “trāhi” as a direct protective invocation, strengthened by oath-like participation—placing the hand on a sacred text and reciting aloud—so the plea becomes ritually and ethically binding.
In the Preta Khanda context, protection rites are emphasized because the departed and the living face subtle dangers; the verse prescribes a structured protective act—scripture-contact, vocal recitation, and deity-worship—to establish safeguarding merit and warding power.
Use disciplined, sincere recitation of protective prayers with reverence for scripture, and pair devotion with proper honoring of helpers (teachers, priests, assistants), reflecting the verse’s stress on correctness and completeness in worship.