Shloka 11

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

शरं चक्रं शलाकां च दुर्गामायुधसंयुताम् / शेषाः षोडशहस्तां स्युरञ्जनं डमरुं विना

Transliteration

śaraṃ cakraṃ śalākāṃ ca durgāmāyudhasaṃyutām / śeṣāḥ ṣoḍaśahastāṃ syurañjanaṃ ḍamaruṃ vinā

Translation

शरं चक्रं शलाकां च धारयन्ती दुर्गामायुधसंयुता। शेषाः षोडशहस्ताः प्रोक्ताः, अञ्जनं डमरुं विना॥

Word by Word

• शरम्: arrow
• शरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• चक्रम्: discus/wheel-weapon
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शलाकाम्: rod/spike
• शलाकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शलाका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दुर्गा-आयुध-संयुताम्: armed with Durga’s weapons
• दुर्गा-आयुध-संयुताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दुर्गायाः आयुधैः) + कृदन्त-विशेषण ‘संयुता’ (endowed/armed)

• शेषाः: the rest/others
• शेषाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• षोडश-हस्ताम्: sixteen-handed
• षोडश-हस्ताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षोडश हस्ताः यस्याः/याम्)

• स्युः: would be/should be
• स्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• अञ्जनम्: collyrium/black pigment
• अञ्जनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• डमरुम्: small drum (ḍamaru)
• डमरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डमरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विना: without
• विना: Apadana (Ablative sense/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक-अव्यय (preposition/particle meaning ‘without’); सह द्वितीयया

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Protective power of the divine manifested through specific iconography and weapons.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as śakti—divine power as refuge (śaraṇāgati) expressed in form.

Application: Use the described form as a dhyāna/nyāsa aid during worship for protection and steadiness of mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.133.12-15 (continuation of fierce forms, colors, mounts, and mantra/puja instructions)

Characters & Entities

• Durgā

FAQs

What is the importance of Durgā’s weapons (āyudhas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses specific weapons as identifying marks, showing that divine forms are recognized through their āyudhas and prescribed iconographic attributes.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse is not about the soul’s journey; it focuses on describing divine/iconographic features (weapons and number of arms) used for recognition and contemplation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a checklist for accurate identification in worship, study, or temple iconography—focusing attention on the deity’s attributes rather than vague symbolism.