Shloka 22

Devanagari script

संकीर्णद्वारकः सो ऽव्यादथ ब्रह्मा सुलोहितः / सदीर्घरेखः सुषिर एकचक्राम्बुजः पृथुः

Transliteration

saṃkīrṇadvārakaḥ so 'vyādatha brahmā sulohitaḥ / sadīrgharekhaḥ suṣira ekacakrāmbujaḥ pṛthuḥ

Translation

സംകീർണദ്വാരകൻ എന്നെ രക്ഷിക്കട്ടെ; പിന്നെ അത്യന്തം ലോഹിതവർണ്ണനായ ബ്രഹ്മൻ എന്നെ കാക്കട്ടെ—ദീർഘരേഖകളുള്ളവൻ, രന്ധ്രയുക്തൻ, ഏകചക്ര-അംബുജചിഹ്നധാരി, വിശാലരൂപൻ.

Word by Word

• संकीर्णद्वारकः: having a mixed/variegated ‘door/portal’ mark
• संकीर्णद्वारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संकीर्णद्वारक (प्रातिपदिक; संकीर्ण + द्वारक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अव्यात्: may (he) protect
• अव्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive usage), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः—‘रक्षतु/पातु’

• अथ: then, and
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (then/and then)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• सुलोहितः: very red / beautifully red
• सुलोहितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुलोहित (प्रातिपदिक; सु + लोहित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सदीर्घरेखः: with long lines/marks
• सदीर्घरेखः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदीर्घरेख (प्रातिपदिक; स + दीर्घ + रेख)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुषिरः: hollow, perforated
• सुषिरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुषिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• एकचक्राम्बुजः: having a single wheel-lotus mark
• एकचक्राम्बुजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकचक्राम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक; एक + चक्र + अम्बुज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पृथुः: broad, wide
• पृथुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda; protective/ritual recitation context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rakṣā through nāma and liṅga (marks): remembrance of divine identifiers (cakra/lotus) as apotropaic devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā of divine attributes as supports (ālambana) for mind’s steadiness and surrender (śaraṇāgati).

Application: Recite as a kavaca-style protection: mentally ‘place’ the cakra and lotus marks as guardians at thresholds/doors and on the body (nyāsa-like visualization).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.45 (sequence of protective names/marks; later explicit Śālagrāma–Dvārakā mention in 1.45.25)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā

FAQs

What is the importance of protective epithets in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses protective invocations—names and identifying marks—intended to be remembered or recited for safeguarding the practitioner and reinforcing dharmic, devotional focus.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing protection and auspicious divine identification, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that spiritual preparedness and dharmic alignment reduce fear and obstacles connected with death and the hereafter.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a short protective remembrance in daily prayer, pairing it with ethical living (truthfulness, non-harm, charity) to cultivate steadiness and fearlessness.