Shloka 3

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

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

Devanagari script

अष्टवर्गं चाष्टमं च ख्यातमीशानपत्रके / ॐ कारो ब्रह्म बीजं स्याद्ध्रीङ्कारो विष्णुरेव च

Transliteration

aṣṭavargaṃ cāṣṭamaṃ ca khyātamīśānapatrake / oṃ kāro brahma bījaṃ syāddhrīṅkāro viṣṇureva ca

Translation

प्रसिद्ध ईशानपत्रक में अष्टवर्ग और अष्टम भी कहा गया है। ‘ॐ’ ब्रह्मा का बीज है और ‘ह्रीं’ निश्चय ही विष्णु है।

Word by Word

• अष्टवर्गम्: the group of eight (letters/classes)
• अष्टवर्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine accusative singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अष्टमम्: the eighth
• अष्टमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter accusative singular); क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ख्यातम्: is known; is called
• ख्यातम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्या (धातु) + त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• ईशानपत्रके: in the Īśāna-patraka (diagram/leaf)
• ईशानपत्रके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईशान + पत्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter locative singular)

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव-स्वर; मन्त्राक्षर (sacred syllable)

• कारः: the syllable/form “kāra” (sound)
• कारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• ब्रह्म: Brahmā / Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Pratipadyam (Predicate/प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• बीजम्: seed (mantra-seed)
• बीजम्: Pratipadyam (Predicate/प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• स्यात्: should be; is
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (3rd person singular)

• ह्रीङ्कारः: the syllable “hrīṅkāra”
• ह्रीङ्कारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रीङ् + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Pratipadyam (Predicate/प्रत्ययार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masculine nominative singular)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, consistent with the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Bīja-akṣaras encode deity-tattvas: Oṁ as Brahmā-bīja; Hrīṁ associated here with Viṣṇu (and elsewhere with Śakti), showing polyvalent mantra-theology.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa as pointers: sound-symbols indicate cosmic functions (sṛṣṭi-sthiti) without exhausting Brahman.

Application: Use mantra with contextual understanding: meanings and deity-associations can vary by tradition; follow the specific prayoga’s mapping rather than assuming a single universal correspondence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual diagram/manual section

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Viṣṇu-nāma and protective syllables recur in devotional/protective contexts (conceptual).

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Ishana

FAQs

What is the importance of Oṁkāra and Hrīṁkāra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns deity-identities to seed-syllables: Oṁ is presented as Brahmā’s bīja, while Hrīṁ is identified with Viṣṇu—supporting mantra-based ritual and contemplation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by grounding ritual sound (bīja/mantra) in divine principles, it reflects the Purāṇic view that sacred recitation and right observance aid purification and spiritual orientation, which are central themes in the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use mantra-recitation with clarity of meaning: treat Oṁ and Hrīṁ as sacred supports for focused devotion and disciplined practice, rather than as mere sounds.