Shloka 30

Pretaśilā at Gayā: Muṇḍapṛṣṭha, Gadādhara’s Manifestation, and the Fruits of Śrāddha & Deity-Worship

Devanagari script

मालाविद्याधरौ स्पष्ट्वा विद्याधरपदं लभेत् / सर्वान्कामानवाप्नोति संपूज्यादिगदाधरम्

Transliteration

mālāvidyādharau spaṣṭvā vidyādharapadaṃ labhet / sarvānkāmānavāpnoti saṃpūjyādigadādharam

Translation

‘മാലാ’യും ‘വിദ്യാധര’യും എന്ന യുഗ്മ മന്ത്രവിദ്യ വ്യക്തമായി അഭ്യസിച്ചാൽ വിദ്യാധരപദം ലഭിക്കും. ആദിഗദാധരൻ (വിഷ്ണു)നെ വിധിപൂർവ്വം സംപൂജിച്ചാൽ എല്ലാ ആഗ്രഹങ്ങളും സഫലമാകും.

Word by Word

• मालाविद्याधरौ: Mālā and Vidyādhara (two beings/deities)
• मालाविद्याधरौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला + विद्याधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), द्विवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (माला + विद्याधरौ)

• स्पष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पष्ट्वा: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund); पाठभेदः ‘स्पृष्ट्वा’ (having touched)

• विद्याधरपदम्: the status/position of a Vidyādhara
• विद्याधरपदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याधर + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (विद्याधरस्य पदम्)

• लभेत्: may attain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (कामान्)

• कामान्: desires
• कामान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन

• अवाप्नोति: obtains
• अवाप्नोति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव+आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• संपूज्य: having worshipped
• संपूज्य: Kriya (Non-finite verb/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+पूज् (धातु)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having worshipped’

• आदि: and others/starting with
• आदि: Sambandha (Qualifier particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable), ‘etc./beginning with’; समासपूर्वपदत्वे अव्ययभावः

• गदाधरम्: Gadādhara (the mace-bearer)
• गदाधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (गदां धरतीति)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-vidyā mastery yields vidyādhara status; worship of Ādi-Gadādhara (Viṣṇu) grants all desires.

Vedantic Theme: Siddhis as secondary fruits within saṃsāra; ultimate dependence on Bhagavān even for extraordinary attainments.

Application: If pursuing mantra practice, do so under guidance with purity and restraint; prioritize devotion and ethical intent over display of powers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mantra-sādhana/temple context

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.86 (mantra/arcana phala catalogue)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Vidyadharas

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Gadādhara (Vishnu) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that proper worship of the primordial mace-bearer, Lord Viṣṇu, is a direct means to fulfilling all legitimate aims (kāmān) and attaining elevated spiritual status.

How does this verse describe attaining Vidyādhara-pada (Vidyadhara status)?

It links attainment of Vidyādhara-pada to clearly mastering specific vidyās/mantras (here referred to as “Mālā” and “Vidyādhara”), implying disciplined practice and correct understanding.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Maintain steady devotional worship (pujā) of Viṣṇu and pair it with consistent mantra-japa and clarity of understanding; the takeaway is that disciplined practice plus devotion yields both inner progress and life-supporting outcomes.