Shloka 3

The Ninefold Rite (Navavidhi): Worship of Sudarśana-Cakra and the Disease-Destroying Hymn

Devanagari script

मूलमन्त्रेण वै न्यासं मूलमन्त्रं शृणुष्वच / सहस्रारं हुं फट् नमो मन्त्रः प्रणवपूर्वकः

Transliteration

mūlamantreṇa vai nyāsaṃ mūlamantraṃ śṛṇuṣvaca / sahasrāraṃ huṃ phaṭ namo mantraḥ praṇavapūrvakaḥ

Translation

മൂലമന്ത്രംകൊണ്ട് നിശ്ചയമായി ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം; ഇനി മൂലമന്ത്രം കേൾക്കുക—പ്രണവപൂർവകമായ ഈ മന്ത്രം: ‘ഓം … സഹസ്രാരം ഹും ഫട് നമഃ’.

Word by Word

• मूलमन्त्रेण: by the root-mantra
• मूलमन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (indeed)

• न्यासम्: nyāsa (ritual placement)
• न्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मूलमन्त्रम्: the root-mantra
• मूलमन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सहस्रारम्: (the discus) with a thousand spokes
• सहस्रारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra + ara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सहस्रम् अराः यस्य तत्)

• हुम्: huṃ
• हुम्: Sambandha (Mantra element/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hum (बीजाक्षर-अव्यय)
• Form: मन्त्र-बीजाक्षर (mantric syllable)

• फट्: phaṭ
• फट्: Sambandha (Mantra element/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: phaṭ (बीजाक्षर-अव्यय)
• Form: मन्त्र-उच्चारण-अव्यय (mantric exclamation)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Mantra element/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable used in mantra: ‘salutation’)

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रणवपूर्वकः: preceded by praṇava (oṃ)
• प्रणवपूर्वकः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praṇava + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रणवः पूर्वः यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra and nyāsa as embodied devotion—installing divine power through praṇava and Sudarśana formula.

Vedantic Theme: Name-form (nāma-rūpa) as upādhis harnessed for purification; īśvara-śakti accessed through disciplined upāsanā.

Application: If initiated/authorized, perform nyāsa with attention and purity; otherwise, adopt simplified japa with reverence, focusing on meaning and protection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: inner ritual body-map (nyāsa on limbs/heart)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.33.4 (dhyāna in heart-lotus complements nyāsa)

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa with the mūla-mantra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames nyāsa as the correct preparatory act—installing the root-mantra into one’s body/centres—before employing the mantra for spiritual or protective practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes inner purification and mantra-installation (nyāsa), which the Garuda Purana treats as supportive sādhana for clarity of consciousness and spiritual upliftment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach mantra practice with proper preparation and reverence—begin with Oṃ (where appropriate), maintain disciplined recitation, and treat nyāsa as a mindful alignment rather than a mechanical ritual.