Shloka 20

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

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

Devanagari script

शूलं चाष्टशतैर्मन्त्र्य भ्रामणाच्छत्रुवृन्दहृत् / ऊर्धशक्तिनिपातेन अधः शक्तिं निकुञ्चेयेत्

Transliteration

śūlaṃ cāṣṭaśatairmantrya bhrāmaṇācchatruvṛndahṛt / ūrdhaśaktinipātena adhaḥ śaktiṃ nikuñceyet

Translation

ಎಂಟುನೂರು ಜಪಗಳಿಂದ ಶೂಲವನ್ನು ಮಂತ್ರಸಿದ್ಧಗೊಳಿಸಿದರೆ, ಅದನ್ನು ತಿರುಗಿಸುವುದರಿಂದ ಅದು ಶತ್ರುಸಮೂಹವನ್ನು ಹರಣಮಾಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಊರ್ಧ್ವಶಕ್ತಿಯ ಪ್ರಹಾರದಿಂದ ಅಧಃಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಒತ್ತಿ ಸಂಕೋಚಿಸಬೇಕು.

Word by Word

• शूलम्: a trident/spear
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• अष्टशतैः: with eight hundreds (800)
• अष्टशतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः (अष्टशतानि = 800); नपुंसकलिङ्गस्य तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम् (instrumental plural)

• मन्त्र्य: having empowered by mantra
• मन्त्र्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्त्र् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-प्राय (absolutive) ‘मन्त्रयित्वा/मन्त्रित्वा’ इत्यर्थे; अव्ययभावः (having enchanted/recited over)

• भ्रामणात्: by (its) whirling/rotation
• भ्रामणात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रमण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचनम्

• शत्रुवृन्दहृत्: removing the host of enemies
• शत्रुवृन्दहृत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रु + वृन्द + हृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (शत्रूणां वृन्दं हरति इति); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; शूलम् इति विशेषणम्

• ऊर्धशक्तिनिपातेन: by the downward strike of the upward power
• ऊर्धशक्तिनिपातेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्ध + शक्ति + निपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (ऊर्धशक्तेः निपातः); पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्

• अधः: downwards/below
• अधः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक क्रियाविशेषण (downwards/below)

• शक्तिम्: power/energy (śakti)
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• निकुञ्चेयेत्: should contract/draw in
• निकुञ्चेयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + कुञ्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (should contract/draw in)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Repeated japa (800) ‘charges’ an implement; disciplined action and correct application of force yield protection and success.

Vedantic Theme: Kriyā-śakti under niyama: power is effective when aligned with order, repetition, and focused intent.

Application: Use repetition and training to ‘empower’ tools/skills; apply force proportionately—strike decisively while stabilizing what is below (control, grounding).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: battlefield/ritual training ground (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.20.16-19 (protective rites culminating in empowered action)

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-empowerment (mantrya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents mantra-recitation as the activating principle that “empowers” an implement (here, a śūla), making it ritually effective for protection and the removal of hostile forces.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; rather, it belongs to the Ācāra-focused material that teaches protective and procedural techniques used to avert danger and disorder in embodied life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a reminder that disciplined repetition, correct method, and self-control are central to any spiritual practice; prioritize ethical restraint and lawful self-protection over harm.