Shloka 15

Durgā Pūjā, 108-Nāma Japa, and Protective Homa in Preta-Kalpa Observance

Devanagari script

तर्जयन्ती परेणैव अन्यं कलकलध्वनिम् / अभयस्वस्तिकाद्यौ च महिषघ्नी च सिंहगा

Transliteration

tarjayantī pareṇaiva anyaṃ kalakaladhvanim / abhayasvastikādyau ca mahiṣaghnī ca siṃhagā

Translation

‘തർജയന്തീ’ മറ്റുള്ളവരെ ഭീതിപ്പെടുത്തി കഠിനമായ കലകലധ്വനിയോടെ ഗർജ്ജിക്കുന്നു; കൂടാതെ അഭയാ, സ്വസ്തികാ മുതലായവർ, മഹിഷഘ്നീ (മഹിഷവധിനി)യും സിംഹഗാ (സിംഹവാഹിനി)യും ഉണ്ട്।

Word by Word

• तर्जयन्ती: threatening
• तर्जयन्ती: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तर्जयन्ती (कृदन्त; √तर्ज् धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• परेण: by/with another (one)
• परेण: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; (परेण = ‘by/with another/with the other’)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• अन्यम्: another (person/being)
• अन्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कलकल-ध्वनिम्: a clattering/noisy sound
• कलकल-ध्वनिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलकल (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (कलकलः ध्वनिः = ‘a clattering sound’)

• अभय-स्वस्तिक-आद्यौ: Abhaya and Svastika (and the like)
• अभय-स्वस्तिक-आद्यौ: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभय (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वस्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (अभयश्च स्वस्तिकश्च आद्यौ = ‘Abhaya and Svastika and others (two chief ones)’)

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

• महिष-घ्नी: the slayer of the buffalo
• महिष-घ्नी: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्नी (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु, स्त्रीप्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (महिषं हन्ति इति = ‘buffalo-slayer’)

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

• सिंह-गा: lion-rider (one who rides a lion)
• सिंह-गा: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + गा (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √गम् धातु, ‘going/riding’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सिंहे गच्छति/सिंहं वाहनं यस्याः = ‘lion-rider/one who goes with a lion’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Fear and coercion arise as experiential fruits of papa; the mind confronts terrifying forms shaped by karmic destiny.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāropa of terrifying forms upon the jīva’s journey under karma; bondage through fear and aversion.

Application: Reduce papa through dharmic living and cultivate remembrance of the divine to counter fear at death and beyond.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Pretakalpa: lists of Yamadūtas/terrifying female entities and their functions (motif-level); Garuda Purana: sections where named forces personify punishment and fear (motif-level)

Characters & Entities

• Tarjayantī
• Abhayā
• Svastikā
• Mahiṣaghnī
• Siṃhagā

FAQs

What is the importance of these named beings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists specific fear-inducing attendants/figures associated with the post-death realm, emphasizing how the preta is confronted by terrifying sounds and forms as part of Yama’s administration and the experience of consequence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It contributes to the narrative that the departed (preta) encounters frightening guardians and environments—auditory and visual—reflecting the psychological and karmic pressure of the after-death passage described in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma and restraint to reduce fear and agitation in life; traditionally, families also follow Garuda Purana death rites (e.g., śrāddha, piṇḍa-dāna) to support the departed and steady the mind against terror imagery associated with the preta state.