Shloka 48

Vaitaraṇī: Torments of the Sinful, Sins Enumerated, and the Vaitaraṇī Go-dāna Rite

Devanagari script

मङ्गलं भगवान्विष्णुर्मङ्गलं गरुडध्वजः / मङ्गलं पुण्डरीकाक्षो मङ्गलायतनं हरिः

Transliteration

maṅgalaṃ bhagavānviṣṇurmaṅgalaṃ garuḍadhvajaḥ / maṅgalaṃ puṇḍarīkākṣo maṅgalāyatanaṃ hariḥ

Translation

Auspiciouslah Bhagavān Viṣṇu; auspiciouslah Dia yang panjinya ber-Garuḍa. Auspiciouslah Yang Bermata Teratai; Hari ialah tempat bersemayamnya segala keberkatan.

Word by Word

• मङ्गलम्: auspiciousness; auspicious
• मङ्गलम्: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; predicative nominative/accusative used as benediction

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; apposition to भगवान्

• मङ्गलम्: auspiciousness; auspicious
• मङ्गलम्: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; benedictive repetition

• गरुडध्वजः: He whose banner is Garuḍa
• गरुडध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): गरुडस्य ध्वजः

• मङ्गलम्: auspiciousness; auspicious
• मङ्गलम्: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पुण्डरीकाक्षः: the lotus-eyed one
• पुण्डरीकाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्डरीक + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: पुण्डरीक-इव अक्षिणी यस्य सः

• मङ्गलायतनम्: abode of auspiciousness
• मङ्गलायतनम्: Karma (कर्म) / Predicate complement (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मङ्गल + आयतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: मङ्गलस्य आयतनम्

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta/Ugraśravas (traditional recitation frame; verse functions as a maṅgala-śloka invoking Lord Viṣṇu within the Vishnu–Garuḍa dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣṇu (Garuḍadhvaja, Puṇḍarīkākṣa, Hari) is auspicious in Himself and the abode of auspiciousness for devotees.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as śubha-āśraya (ground of auspiciousness); nāma-rūpa epithets as supports for devotion and contemplation.

Application: Use as a daily maṅgala-śloka; begin tasks with remembrance of Viṣṇu; cultivate a mind that associates the divine with śubha-saṅkalpa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/shrine (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.47.47 (steadfast buddhi in Viṣṇu); Garuda Purana 2.47.50 (Vaiṣṇavī vāk-sudhā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Hari

FAQs

What is the importance of a maṅgala-śloka in the Garuda Purana?

It sanctifies the recitation by invoking Viṣṇu as the source of auspiciousness, traditionally believed to remove obstacles and steady the mind for teachings—especially those concerning death, preta-state, and rites.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on the soul’s journey after death?

Though not describing the journey directly, it establishes Viṣṇu (Hari) as protective and auspicious—an invocation often placed around discussions of preta-condition, rites, and fear of Yama’s paths, emphasizing refuge in divine remembrance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin study, śrāddha-related reading, or any solemn ritual with remembrance of Viṣṇu as “mangalam,” cultivating calm, devotion, and ethical resolve in daily life.