Shloka 38

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing Hari with the Pavitra

Devanagari script

विष्वक्सेनं ततः प्रार्च्य सुरुमर्घ्यादिभिर्हर / देवस्याग्रे पठेन्मन्त्रं कृताञ्जलिपुटः स्थितः

Transliteration

viṣvaksenaṃ tataḥ prārcya surumarghyādibhirhara / devasyāgre paṭhenmantraṃ kṛtāñjalipuṭaḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

Wahai Hara, kemudian pujilah Viṣvaksena dengan semestinya melalui persembahan harum seperti arghya dan lainnya. Berdiri di hadapan Tuhan dengan kedua tangan terkatup, bacalah mantra.

Word by Word

• विष्वक्सेनम्: Viṣvaksena (a deity/attendant of Viṣṇu)
• विष्वक्सेनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्वक्सेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Sequential adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/कालवाचक (then/thereafter)

• प्रार्च्य: having worshipped
• प्रार्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य — ‘having worshipped’

• सुरुम: fragrant substance/incense (suru)
• सुरुम: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (द्रव्यवाचक; सुगन्धिद्रव्य)

• अर्घ्यादिभिः: with arghya and other offerings
• अर्घ्यादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन — ‘अर्घ्य-आदि’ (with arghya etc.)

• हर: take/offer (you should)
• हर: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘take/offer!’

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचन

• अग्रे: in front (of)
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति; एकवचन — अधिकरण (in front/presence)

• पठेत्: should recite
• पठेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘he should recite’

• मन्त्रम्: the mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• कृताञ्जलिपुटः: with hands joined in reverence
• कृताञ्जलिपुटः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन — ‘कृत-अञ्जलि-पुट’ (having hands folded as a hollow)

• स्थितः: standing
• स्थितः: Karta (Agent as participial predicate/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन — ‘standing’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction), within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Approach to the Lord is mediated by proper honoring of divine attendants (Viṣvaksena) and disciplined mantra-recitation with humility (kṛtāñjali).

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti expressed as śaraṇāgati and niyama; removal of vighna through aligned devotion.

Application: Before major spiritual work, invoke protection and obstacle-removal (through Viṣvaksena/Gaṇeśa per one’s tradition), then recite mantra with focused posture and reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temple threshold/inner sanctum approach

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (arcana sequence culminating in mantra-pāṭha)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣvaksena
• Hara (Śiva)
• Deva (the Lord/deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Viṣvaksena in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse places Viṣvaksena worship as a preparatory step—honouring the Lord’s attendant before mantra-recitation, indicating proper order and removal of ritual impediments.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual discipline (pūjā, arghya, mantra with añjali) that supports dharma-based rites often connected in the Garuḍa Purāṇa with post-death observances and spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any serious prayer or rite, begin with a brief, orderly worship and recite mantras with reverence and focused posture (standing, hands folded), prioritizing sincerity and correct sequence.