Shloka 9

Haristuti-saṅgraha: Devatā–Ṛṣi Praṇāma, Nāma-māhātmya, and Vairāgya from Deha-āsakti

Devanagari script

आहङ्कारिकप्राणाच्च गुणैश्च दशभिः सदा / न्यूनभूतां च मां पाहि कृपालो भक्तवत्सल

Transliteration

āhaṅkārikaprāṇācca guṇaiśca daśabhiḥ sadā / nyūnabhūtāṃ ca māṃ pāhi kṛpālo bhaktavatsala

Translation

അഹങ്കാരജന്യമായ പ്രാണവും സദാ പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്ന പത്ത് ഗുണങ്ങളും മൂലം ഞാൻ ഹീനനായിരിക്കുന്നു; ഹേ കൃപാലുവേ, ഹേ ഭക്തവത്സലനേ, എന്നെ കാത്തരുളണമേ.

Word by Word

• āhaṅkārika-prāṇāt: from the ego-based prāṇa
• āhaṅkārika-prāṇāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āhaṅkārika (प्रातिपदिक) + prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘अहङ्कारसम्बन्धिनः प्राणाः’ तेषाम् (from ego-born vital airs)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• guṇaiḥ: by/with qualities
• guṇaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• daśabhiḥ: with ten
• daśabhiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• nyūna-bhūtām: (me) become deficient
• nyūna-bhūtām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nyūna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘न्यूनैव भूता’ (having become deficient)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pāhi: protect
• pāhi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pā (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kṛpālaḥ: the compassionate one
• kṛpālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रयुज्यते)

• bhakta-vatsala: O lover of devotees
• bhakta-vatsala: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष—‘भक्तेषु वत्सलः’

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant voice within the Garuda Purana’s didactic narrative (prayer addressed to Lord Vishnu/Narayana)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahaṅkāra and guṇas condition the jīva; liberation begins with confession of helplessness and turning to divine grace.

Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti-guṇa bondage and the need for transcendence of guṇas; īśvara-anugraha as decisive for crossing saṃsāra.

Application: Observe guṇa-driven patterns (restlessness, craving, inertia); practice devotion and self-surrender; adopt sāttvika disciplines (truthfulness, moderation, service) while praying for inner protection.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.7.6 (aprameya Lord; plea for protection); Garuda Purana 3.7.8 (pāda-rajas smaraṇa as refuge)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (implied as the addressed compassionate protector)
• Ahaṅkāra (ego principle)
• Prāṇa (vital force)

FAQs

What is the importance of ahaṅkāra (ego) in Garuda Purana teachings?

This verse treats ego (ahaṅkāra) as a root cause that conditions prāṇa and behavior; the devotee asks Vishnu to protect them from ego-driven impulses that bind the subtle self.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

Garuda Purana repeatedly links post-death experience to subtle tendencies (guṇas, ego, mental impressions). This prayer seeks purification and divine protection so those inner forces do not lead one into suffering states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a daily humility-and-discipline reminder: reduce ego-driven reactions, cultivate sattva through ethical conduct and devotion, and consciously seek divine guidance when feeling overpowered by impulses.