Shloka 12

Dāna-vrata and the Tīrtha Circuit of Venkaṭādri

Snāna, Mantra, Naivedya

Devanagari script

यावच्च पौरुषं सूक्तं तावत्कालं हि तिष्ठति / पश्चाज्जप्त्वा महामन्त्रं वेङ्कटेशाभिधं परम्

Transliteration

yāvacca pauruṣaṃ sūktaṃ tāvatkālaṃ hi tiṣṭhati / paścājjaptvā mahāmantraṃ veṅkaṭeśābhidhaṃ param

Translation

जितनी देर पौरुष सूक्त का पाठ हो, उतनी देर स्थिर रहना चाहिए; उसके बाद ‘वेंकटेश’ नामक परम महामंत्र का जप करना चाहिए।

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/correlation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative indeclinable (यावत्-अव्यय) meaning 'as long as/so long'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• pauruṣam: Pauruṣa (pertaining to Puruṣa)
• pauruṣam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pauruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies 'sūktam'

• sūktam: hymn
• sūktam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tāvat: for that long
• tāvat: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative indeclinable (तावत्-अव्यय) meaning 'for that long'

• kālam: time, duration
• kālam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण/Duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; duration-accusative

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic

• tiṣṭhati: remains, stands
• tiṣṭhati: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) meaning 'afterwards'

• japtvā: having recited
• japtvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय), having recited

• mahāmantram: the great mantra
• mahāmantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound: mahā + mantra

• veṅkaṭeśābhidham: called ‘Venkateśa’
• veṅkaṭeśābhidham: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veṅkaṭeśa-abhidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies 'mahāmantram'; tatpuruṣa: veṅkaṭeśa + abhidha ('named Venkateśa')

• param: supreme
• param: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies 'mahāmantram'

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-krama and niyama: remain steady for the duration of Purusha Sūkta, then chant the supreme Veṅkaṭeśa mantra.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahma upāsanā supported by Vedic revelation; nāma as a direct means to citta-śuddhi and īśvara-smṛti.

Application: Use timed recitation: complete a Vedic hymn without interruption, then transition to iṣṭa-devatā nāma/mantra japa with full attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred mountain/temple tirtha (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Vaiṣṇava-nāma-mahātmyas and mantra-japa as purifiers (general thematic parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Puruṣa
• Veṅkaṭeśa (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of reciting the Pauruṣa Sūkta in the Garuda Purana context?

This verse treats the Pauruṣa Sūkta as a timed, structured recitation that prepares the practitioner for subsequent mantra-japa, indicating a prescribed sequence in worship.

Why does the verse instruct chanting the Veṅkaṭeśa Mahāmantra after the Sūkta?

It presents Veṅkaṭeśa (a form-name of Vishnu) as the “supreme” mantra-focus to be taken up after the hymn, implying culmination of praise (sūkta) into concentrated japa (mantra).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain disciplined sequencing in spiritual practice: complete a hymn/recitation attentively for its full duration, then transition into focused mantra repetition without haste.