Shloka 10

Mṛtyvaṣṭaka of Mārkaṇḍeya: Refuge in Viṣṇu and the Withdrawal of Death

Devanagari script

इदं यः पठते भक्त्या त्रिकालं नियतं शुचिः / नाकाले तस्य मृत्युः स्यान्नरस्याच्युतचेतसः

Transliteration

idaṃ yaḥ paṭhate bhaktyā trikālaṃ niyataṃ śuciḥ / nākāle tasya mṛtyuḥ syānnarasyācyutacetasaḥ

Translation

Quiconque, pur et observant la discipline, le récite avec dévotion aux trois moments prescrits, pour cet homme dont l’esprit demeure fixé sur Acyuta (Viṣṇu), la mort ne viendra pas avant l’heure.

Word by Word

• इदम्: this (hymn)
• इदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• पठते: recites
• पठते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (पठ्/पाठे)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्रिकालम्: at the three times (daily)
• त्रिकालम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम्—‘त्रिषु कालेषु’ (at the three times)

• नियतम्: regularly; with discipline
• नियतम्: Kriya-vishesana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; नि + √यम्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्—‘नियमेन/नियतरीत्या’

• शुचिः: pure (in conduct)
• शुचिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यः इत्यस्य)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• अकाले: at an untimely time
• अकाले: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-युक्तः—‘असमये’

• तस्य: for him / of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्यात्: would be; may occur
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (अस्/भूवाचक)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नरस्य: of the man
• नरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अच्युतचेतसः: whose mind is fixed on Acyuta (Vishnu)
• अच्युतचेतसः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अच्युत + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अच्युतस्य चेतः यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional recitation with purity and discipline at the three times, with mind fixed on Acyuta, prevents akāla-mṛtyu (untimely death).

Vedantic Theme: Smaraṇa-niṣṭhā (steadfast remembrance) as protective and purifying; sādhana through regulated practice (niyama) supporting grace.

Application: Establish a tri-kāla routine (dawn/noon/dusk) for stotra recitation; maintain cleanliness and mental focus; interpret ‘not premature death’ also as reduced self-destructive habits and steadier health through disciplined living.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: prescriptions for daily worship, purity, and recitation; benefits of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa at death; Phalaśruti style promises attached to stotras

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Acyuta)

FAQs

What is the importance of trikāla-pāṭha (three-times daily recitation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents disciplined thrice-daily recitation done with purity and devotion as a protective sādhana, strengthening Viṣṇu-centered consciousness and guarding against premature death.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on death and its timing?

It distinguishes “untimely” death (akāla-mṛtyu) from death at one’s destined time, stating that devotionally reciting this teaching with a mind fixed on Acyuta prevents premature death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a simple daily routine of clean living, regular prayer/recitation morning–midday–evening, and cultivate steady remembrance of Viṣṇu—using devotion and discipline as spiritual protection.