Devi Bhagavatam 11.5.6 — Cosmic Feminine Manifestations, Skandha 11, Adhyaya 5, Shloka 6

Skandha 11, Adhyaya 5: Rudraksha Japa Mala Vidhana Varnanam

Devanagari script

ततः शिवाम्भसाऽऽक्षाल्य ततो मन्त्रगणान्न्यसेत् । स्पृष्ट्वा शिवास्त्रमन्त्रेण कवचेनावगुण्ठयेत्

Transliteration

tataḥ śivāmbhasā''kṣālya tato mantragaṇānnyaset . spṛṣṭvā śivāstramantreṇa kavacenāvaguṇṭhayet

Translation

Después, lavándolo con Shivambhu, se deben infundir grupos de Mantras. Tocándolo con el mantra Shivastra, se debe proteger con el mantra Kavacha.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas
• Form: Avyaya

• śivāmbhasā: with holy water
• śivāmbhasā: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivāmbhas
• Form: Inst. Sg. Neut.

• ākṣālya: having washed thoroughly
• ākṣālya: Purvakala Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-kṣal
• Form: Lyap Pratyaya

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adverbial
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas
• Form: Avyaya

• mantragaṇān: groups of mantras
• mantragaṇān: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantragaṇa
• Form: Acc. Pl. Masc.

• nyaset: should place/fix
• nyaset: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-as
• Form: Vidhilin, 3rd Sg. Parasmaipada

• spṛṣṭvā: having touched
• spṛṣṭvā: Purvakala Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: spṛś
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya

• śivāstramantreṇa: with the Shiva-astra mantra
• śivāstramantreṇa: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivāstramantra
• Form: Inst. Sg. Masc.

• kavacena: with the armor (mantra)
• kavacena: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavaca
• Form: Inst. Sg. Masc.

• avaguṇṭhayet: should veil/protect
• avaguṇṭhayet: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-guṇṭh
• Form: Vidhilin, 3rd Sg. Parasmaipada

Speaker

Ishvara (Shiva)

Shakti Theology

Devi Form: null

Mahavidya Connection: null

Shakti Manifestation: null

Tattva Discussed: null

Devi Narrative

Demon Antagonist: null

Devi Weapon Used: null

Narrative Source: null

Story Arc Position: setup

Tantra Dimension

Mantra Referenced: Shivastra mantra, Kavacha mantra

Yantra Referenced: null

Kundalini Element: null

Chakra Referenced: null

Tantric Practice Type: Nyasa and Kavacha (Armor)

Bhakti & Stuti

Stuti Type: null

Recitation Occasion: null

Phala Shruti: null

Devotee Offering Stuti: null

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: null

Creation Role: null

Shakti Philosophy: null

Relation To Brahman: null

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Ishvara

Listener: Shanmukha

Dialogue Context: Infusing the mala with protective and empowering mantras

Narrative Layer: embedded

Ritual Context

Text: The climax of the Mala Samskara ritual. Nyasa installs the deities into the beads, Astra drives away negative forces, and Kavacha seals the divine energy inside the mala so it doesn't dissipate.

Philosophical Significance

Text: Illustrates the Tantric principle that divine power must be deliberately invoked (Nyasa), protected from chaotic forces (Astra), and contained (Kavacha) to be effective for the spiritual practitioner.

Characters & Entities

• Shivambhu
• Nyasa
• Shivastra mantra
• Kavacha mantra

FAQs

What is the final washing done with?

The final washing of the mala is done with 'Shivambhu', which refers to water made sacred to Shiva (often through specific mantras or from a Shiva linga bathing).

What esoteric rituals are performed on the mala after washing?

The practitioner performs 'Nyasa' (infusing mantras into the beads), touches it while chanting the Shivastra mantra, and energetically seals it using the Kavacha (armor) mantra.