Shloka 15

Devanagari script

शिरश्न पातु वह्निस्ते वसव: सर्वतस्तनुम्‌ । अहं च ते सदा पुत्र शान्तिस्वस्तिपरायणा,अग्निदेव तुम्हारे सिरकी और वसुगण तुम्हारे सम्पूर्ण शरीरकी सब ओरसे रक्षा करें। पुत्र! मैं भी तुम्हारे लिये शान्ति एवं कल्याणसाधक कर्ममें संलग्न हो यहाँ निरन्तर कुशल मनाती रहूँगी। वत्स! तुम्हारा मार्ग विध्नरहित हो, तुम अभीष्ट कार्यकी सिद्धिके लिये यात्रा करो

Transliteration

śirasnā pātu vahniste vasavaḥ sarvatastanum | ahaṃ ca te sadā putra śānti-svasti-parāyaṇā ||

Translation

ବିନତା କହିଲେ—“ଅଗ୍ନିଦେବ ତୋର ଶିରକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁନ୍ତୁ, ଏବଂ ବସୁଗଣ ସମସ୍ତ ଦିଗରୁ ତୋର ସମଗ୍ର ଦେହକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କରୁନ୍ତୁ। ପୁତ୍ର! ମୁଁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ସ୍ୱସ୍ତିରେ ନିଷ୍ଠା ରଖି ସଦା ତୋର କୁଶଳ-ମଙ୍ଗଳ କାମନା କରିବି। ବତ୍ସ! ତୋର ପଥ ବିଘ୍ନରହିତ ହେଉ; ଅଭୀଷ୍ଟ ସିଦ୍ଧି ପାଇଁ ଯାତ୍ରା କର।”

Word by Word

शिरसाwith (your) head

पातुmay (he) protect

वह्निःAgni, fire-god

तेof you/your

वसवःthe Vasus (a group of deities)

सर्वतःfrom all sides, everywhere

तनुम्body, person

अहम्I

चand

तेto/for you

सदाalways

पुत्रO son

शान्ति-स्वस्ति-परायणाdevoted to peace and welfare

Speaker

गरुड उवाच

Characters & Entities

Garuḍa

Agni (Vahni)

Vasus

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse models a dharmic benediction: one should begin undertakings with prayers for protection, peace (śānti), and well-being (svasti), recognizing both divine support (Agni, the Vasus) and personal goodwill expressed through continual auspicious intention.

What is happening in the narrative?

Garuḍa addresses a ‘son’ (putra) and pronounces protective blessings—assigning Agni to guard the head and the Vasus to guard the body—while also promising to remain devoted to acts that bring peace and welfare, and urging the addressee to proceed on an obstacle-free journey to accomplish the intended goal.