Shloka 6

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

ॐ कारयुक्ता देवस्य शिखा ज्ञेया वृषध्वज / ॐ क्षैं कवचाय हुं वै कवचं परिकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

oṃ kārayuktā devasya śikhā jñeyā vṛṣadhvaja / oṃ kṣaiṃ kavacāya huṃ vai kavacaṃ parikīrtitam

Translation

Wahai pembawa panji lembu, ‘Oṃ’ yang disertai suku ‘kā’ hendaknya dipahami sebagai śikhā (jambul suci) Sang Dewa. Dan “Oṃ kṣaiṃ—kavacāya huṃ” dinyatakan sebagai kavaca, pelindung suci.

Word by Word

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambandha (Invocation/मन्त्रारम्भ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव

• कारयुक्ता: joined with the syllable ‘kāra’
• कारयुक्ता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार + युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; (kāra = syllable/letter ‘kāra’)

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Sambandha (Possessor/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• शिखा: the tuft/crown (śikhā)
• शिखा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञेया: is to be known
• ज्ञेया: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: to be known)

• वृषध्वज: O Bull-bannered one
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambandha (Invocation/मन्त्रारम्भ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव

• क्षैं: kṣaiṃ
• क्षैं: Sambandha (Mantra element/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षैं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; बीजाक्षर

• कवचाय: to the armor (kavaca)
• कवचाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन

• हुम्: huṃ
• हुम्: Sambandha (Ritual utterance/मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हुम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; मन्त्र-बीज/उच्चारण (mantric exclamation)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• कवचम्: the armor (kavaca)
• कवचम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• परिकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + कीर्तित (कृदन्त; √कीर्त्/√कृत्? here √कीर्त् (धातु) caus./denom. + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (is proclaimed)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-kavaca as protective discipline: spiritual safeguarding through regulated practice and purity.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and saṃskāra: protective rites stabilize mind and senses, supporting higher pursuit.

Application: Use kavaca-mantra before worship/meditation; treat it as a commitment to ethical restraint and mental guarding, not only occult protection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.5 (aṅga-mantras); Garuda Purana 1.34.7 (netra/astrā mantras)

Characters & Entities

• Deity (devasya)
• Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva epithet)

FAQs

What is the importance of kavacha (protective armor) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames specific bīja-mantras as a spiritual “armor,” indicating mantra-based protection as part of ritualized practice (nyāsa/kavaca) for safeguarding the practitioner.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing protective mantra-rites, it reflects the Purāṇic view that disciplined ritual and dharmic practice provide spiritual safeguarding, which supports one’s well-being and auspicious transitions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder that sacred recitation is traditionally paired with ethical discipline and focused intention—treating mantra as inner protection against fear, agitation, and harmful impulses.