Shloka 20

Śiva-taught Mantra-Weapons, Mudrās, and Rakṣā-Rites

Removal of Kīlaka; Protection from Nāga, Viṣa, Graha, and Storms

Devanagari script

शूलं चाष्टशतैर्मन्त्र्य भ्रामणाच्छत्रुवृन्दहृत् / ऊर्धशक्तिनिपातेन अधः शक्तिं निकुञ्चेयेत्

Transliteration

śūlaṃ cāṣṭaśatairmantrya bhrāmaṇācchatruvṛndahṛt / ūrdhaśaktinipātena adhaḥ śaktiṃ nikuñceyet

Translation

Habiendo consagrado el tridente mediante la recitación del mantra ochocientas veces, se vuelve un removedor de multitudes de enemigos por su movimiento giratorio. Al golpear con la fuerza superior, debe uno presionar hacia abajo y contraer la fuerza inferior.

Word by Word

• शूलम्: a trident/spear
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अष्टशतैः: with eight hundreds (800)
• अष्टशतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः (अष्टशतानि = 800); नपुंसकलिङ्गस्य तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (instrumental plural)

• मन्त्र्य: having empowered by mantra
• मन्त्र्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-प्राय (absolutive) ‘मन्त्रयित्वा/मन्त्रित्वा’ इत्यर्थे; अव्ययभावः (having enchanted/recited over)

• भ्रामणात्: by (its) whirling/rotation
• भ्रामणात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचनम्

• शत्रुवृन्दहृत्: removing the host of enemies
• शत्रुवृन्दहृत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रु + वृन्द + हृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (शत्रूणां वृन्दं हरति इति); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; शूलम् इति विशेषणम्

• ऊर्धशक्तिनिपातेन: by the downward strike of the upward power
• ऊर्धशक्तिनिपातेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध + शक्ति + निपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (ऊर्धशक्तेः निपातः); पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्

• अधः: downwards/below
• अधः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (downwards/below)

• शक्तिम्: power/energy (śakti)
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• निकुञ्चेयेत्: should contract/draw in
• निकुञ्चेयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + कुञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (should contract/draw in)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Repeated japa (800) ‘charges’ an implement; disciplined action and correct application of force yield protection and success.

Vedantic Theme: Kriyā-śakti under niyama: power is effective when aligned with order, repetition, and focused intent.

Application: Use repetition and training to ‘empower’ tools/skills; apply force proportionately—strike decisively while stabilizing what is below (control, grounding).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield/ritual training ground (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.20.16-19 (protective rites culminating in empowered action)

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-empowerment (mantrya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents mantra-recitation as the activating principle that “empowers” an implement (here, a śūla), making it ritually effective for protection and the removal of hostile forces.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; rather, it belongs to the Ācāra-focused material that teaches protective and procedural techniques used to avert danger and disorder in embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder that disciplined repetition, correct method, and self-control are central to any spiritual practice; prioritize ethical restraint and lawful self-protection over harm.