Shloka 12

Kālin̄dī’s Austerity; True Tapas and Prāyaścitta; Kṛṣṇa’s Grace and Marriage

Devanagari script

अष्टाक्षरीपूजया दिव्यतीर्थैर्विष्णोः पुरा भ्रामितैः शङ्खतीर्थैः / न पावितं मच्छरीरं मुरारे कदा द्रक्ष्ये तव व क्त्रं मुकुन्द

Transliteration

aṣṭākṣarīpūjayā divyatīrthairviṣṇoḥ purā bhrāmitaiḥ śaṅkhatīrthaiḥ / na pāvitaṃ maccharīraṃ murāre kadā drakṣye tava va ktraṃ mukunda

Translation

八音節のマントラ（aṣṭākṣarī）による礼拝によっても、また神聖なるティールタ—かつてヴィシュヌ（Viṣṇu）が巡った、法螺貝（śaṅkha）より生じた聖なる渡し場—によっても、この身は清められていない、ムラーリ（Murāri）よ。ムクンダ（Mukunda）よ、いつ御顔を拝せよう。

Word by Word

• अष्टाक्षरी-पूजया: by the worship of the eight-syllabled (mantra)
• अष्टाक्षरी-पूजया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टाक्षरी (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (अष्टाक्षर्याः पूजा)

• दिव्य-तीर्थैः: by divine pilgrimage-places
• दिव्य-तीर्थैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय-समासः (दिव्यानि तीर्थानि)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• पुरा: formerly, earlier
• पुरा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• भ्रामितैः: made to wander / traversed
• भ्रामितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रामि (धातु) → भ्रामित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with तीर्थैः

• शङ्ख-तीर्थैः: by the conch-related sacred fords (Śaṅkha-tīrthas)
• शङ्ख-तीर्थैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (शङ्खस्य तीर्थानि)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation particle (निषेध)

• पावितम्: purified
• पावितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पू (धातु) → पावित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle used predicatively (क्त-कृदन्त); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); with implied copula ‘अस्ति’

• मत्-शरीरम्: my body
• मत्-शरीरम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः (मम शरीरम्)

• मुरारे: O slayer of Mura
• मुरारे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुरारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

• कदा: when?
• कदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक कालवाचक)

• द्रक्ष्ये: shall I see
• द्रक्ष्ये: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्/Periphrastic future), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• वक्त्रम्: face
• वक्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• मुकुन्द: O Mukunda
• मुकुन्द: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुकुन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

A repentant devotee/soul (addressing Lord Vishnu as Murari/Mukunda) within the Preta Kanda’s devotional-ritual context

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External rites (mantra-japa, tirtha-yatra) are potent but insufficient without inner transformation; true purification culminates in God-realization/darshana.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi as prerequisite; karma-kanda supports but does not replace direct devotion/realization.

Application: Combine mantra practice and pilgrimage with ethical living, humility, and steady bhakti; evaluate inner change rather than tallying rituals.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (pilgrimage site)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.21.8-11 (progression from neglected worship/food to mantra-tirtha and inner purity)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Mukunda
• Murari

FAQs

What is the importance of the aṣṭākṣarī mantra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats aṣṭākṣarī-pūjā as a powerful purifier, yet stresses that without genuine inner transformation and divine grace, mere ritual performance may still feel insufficient for attaining Viṣṇu’s direct vision.

How does this verse connect pilgrimage (tīrtha) with the soul’s purification?

It acknowledges tīrthas as sacred and Viṣṇu-connected, but emphasizes that true purification is not guaranteed by visiting holy places alone; the aspirant longs for Viṣṇu’s face—symbolizing final spiritual fulfillment beyond external acts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Combine mantra-japa and sacred observances with ethical living, repentance, and steady devotion—treat rituals and pilgrimages as supports for inner purity rather than substitutes for it.