Shloka 56
सूर्यरथ-कालचक्र-आयनविभागः, संध्योपासनम्, देवयान-पितृयानम्, विष्णुपद-गङ्गावतरणम्
तेन तत् प्रेरितं ज्योतिर् ओंकारेणाथ दीप्तिमत् दहत्य् अशेषरक्षांसि मन्देहाख्यान्य् अघानि वै
tena tat preritaṃ jyotir oṃkāreṇātha dīptimat dahaty aśeṣarakṣāṃsi mandehākhyāny aghāni vai
Impulsed by Him, that radiant light—made blazing through the power of the sacred Oṃ—burns away entirely the rākṣasas known as the Mandehas, those very embodiments of sin.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Sacred geography and the Sun’s daily course; why sandhyā and Oṃ are efficacious against Mandehas.
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Mantra—especially Oṃ when aligned with divine will—functions as a purifying and protective śakti that burns sin and obstructive forces.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Maintain disciplined daily mantra-japa and sandhyā practice, treating it as spiritual protection and purification rather than mere ritual.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s will empowers created agencies (light/mantra) to act—divine immanence coordinating cosmic order.
Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)
Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)
Antaryamin: Yes
FAQs
Om functions as a sacred, energizing principle that makes the divine radiance “blazing,” enabling it to destroy demonic forces identified with sin and obstruction.
He frames it as a lawful, recurring act: divine will impels a sanctified radiance, and that empowered light consumes demonic embodiments of adharma, preserving the world’s rhythm.
Even when not named explicitly, the verse implies a supreme governor: the cosmic light acts because it is “impelled by Him,” reflecting Vishnu’s sovereignty as the sustaining power behind dharma and protection.