Shloka 4

Mṛtyuñjaya/Amṛteśvara Upāsanā: Three-Syllable Mantra, Kavaca, Japa-Phala, and Pūjā-Aṅgas

Devanagari script

शतजप्याद्वेदफलं यज्ञतीर्थफलं लभेत् / अष्टोत्तरशताज्जाप्यात्रिसन्ध्यं मृत्यु शत्रुजित

Transliteration

śatajapyādvedaphalaṃ yajñatīrthaphalaṃ labhet / aṣṭottaraśatājjāpyātrisandhyaṃ mṛtyu śatrujita

Translation

Dengan seratus kali japa, seseorang memperoleh pahala seperti mempelajari Veda, serta buah daripada yajña dan ziarah ke tīrtha. Dengan seratus lapan kali japa pada tiga sandhyā (fajar, tengah hari, dan senja), seseorang menjadi penakluk maut dan musuh.

Word by Word

• शतजप्यात्: from a hundred recitations
• शतजप्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + जप्य (कृदन्त, √जप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचनम्; ‘शत-जप्य’ = ‘hundredfold recitation’

• वेदफलम्: the fruit of the Vedas
• वेदफलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘वेदस्य फलम्’

• यज्ञतीर्थफलम्: the fruit of sacrifices and pilgrimages
• यज्ञतीर्थफलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘यज्ञ-तीर्थयोः फलम्’ (समाहार)

• लभेत्: one should obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अष्टोत्तरशतात्: from one hundred and eight (recitations)
• अष्टोत्तरशतात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टोत्तरशत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; संख्या-समास: अष्ट + उत्तर + शत (108)

• जाप्य: recitation (japa)
• जाप्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ण्यत्/यत्) — ‘जपनीयम्/जपः’ (recitation); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (सन्दर्भानुसार)

• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: at the three daily times
• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (कालवाचक) — ‘त्रिसन्ध्यम्’ = ‘at the three junctions (dawn/noon/dusk)’

• मृत्यु: O Death / death
• मृत्यु: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (पाठे सम्भाव्यः सम्बोधनः)

• शत्रुजित: O conqueror of enemies
• शत्रुजित: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + जित् (कृदन्त, √जि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘शत्रून् जयति’ इति (agent noun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Measured japa yields great puṇya—equated to Veda-study, yajña, and tīrtha; tri-sandhyā 108-japa grants victory over death and enemies.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and repetition (abhyāsa) purify and empower; sacred time amplifies sādhana.

Application: Establish a daily routine: 108 recitations at dawn/noon/dusk; treat it as a sustainable substitute/complement to larger rites when resources are limited.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual time-cycle (kāla-mandala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: japa-phala and sandhyā-related observances in ritual/dharma portions; Garuda Purana: merit equivalence statements (tulya-phala) used to motivate practice

FAQs

What is the importance of japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates japa as a concentrated practice that can yield the same spiritual merit as Vedic study, yajñas, and tīrtha-yātrā when done with prescribed count and discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing post-death geography here, the verse points to a preventative dharmic discipline—regular tri-sandhyā japa—that strengthens spiritual merit and is praised as ‘victory over death,’ i.e., mastery over mortality through sustained sādhana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily japa routine—ideally at morning, midday, and evening—keeping a consistent count (100 or 108), treating it as a steady dharma practice rather than an occasional ritual.