Shloka 5

Devanagari script

शङ्कचक्रगदापद्मधरं सौम्यं किरीटिनम् / आवाह्य मण्डले देवं पूर्वोक्तविधिना हर

Transliteration

śaṅkacakragadāpadmadharaṃ saumyaṃ kirīṭinam / āvāhya maṇḍale devaṃ pūrvoktavidhinā hara

Translation

ഹേ ഹരാ! മുൻപറഞ്ഞ വിധിപ്രകാരം ശംഖ-ചക്ര-ഗദാ-പദ്മധാരിയായ സൗമ്യ കിരീടധാരിയായ ദേവനെ മണ്ഡലത്തിൽ ആവാഹനം ചെയ്യുക।

Word by Word

• शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मधरम्: the bearer of conch, discus, mace and lotus
• शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त; धातु √धृ (धारणे))
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘धर’ = वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/अच्-प्रत्यय), विशेषणरूपेण

• सौम्यम्: gentle, auspicious
• सौम्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• किरीटिनम्: crowned, wearing a diadem
• किरीटिनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किरीटिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (किरीट-युक्तः)

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √वह् (वहने)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having invoked’

• मण्डले: in the circle/mandala
• मण्डले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पूर्वोक्तविधिना: by the previously stated procedure
• पूर्वोक्तविधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्वोक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् (वचने) क्त) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; साधन/उपायार्थे

• हर: worship/perform (O Hara)
• हर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हृ (हरणे)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, Vinatā-putra), within a ritual/procedural context

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āvāhana and dhyāna of Viṣṇu’s iconic form (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma) as a means to establish divine proximity and grace.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā as an accessible doorway toward inner steadiness and purification (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Before japa or stotra, visualize and invite the four-armed Lord into a clean worship space; maintain methodical adherence to the prescribed vidhi.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.33 (Sudarśana-cakra worship sequence; ‘पूर्वोक्तविधिना’ indicates earlier procedural steps)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (implied by śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma)
• Hara (Śiva, as vocative addressee)

FAQs

What is the importance of āvāhana (invocation) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes that worship begins by formally inviting the deity into the maṇḍala, ensuring the rite is performed with presence, order, and the prescribed method (pūrvokta-vidhi).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames correct upāsanā and ritual discipline as supports for spiritual protection and purification, which Garuda Purana links to better outcomes in post-death passages elsewhere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any pūjā, follow a clear sequence—prepare a sacred space (maṇḍala/altar), invoke the chosen form of the Divine with focus, and maintain procedural integrity rather than improvising carelessly.