Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

ईशविष्णवर्कदेव्यादिकवचं सर्वसाधकम् / अमृतेशं महामन्त्रन्त्र्यक्षरं पूजनं समम् / जपनान्मृत्युहीनाः स्युः सर्वपापविवर्जिताः

Transliteration

īśaviṣṇavarkadevyādikavacaṃ sarvasādhakam / amṛteśaṃ mahāmantrantryakṣaraṃ pūjanaṃ samam / japanānmṛtyuhīnāḥ syuḥ sarvapāpavivarjitāḥ

Translation

ईश-विष्णु-देव्यादिकवचं सर्वसाधकं प्रभाववत्। अमृतेशस्य महामन्त्रस्य त्र्यक्षरस्य पूजनं पूजासमं; जपात् अकालमृत्युविनिर्मुक्ताः सर्वपापविवर्जिताश्च भवन्ति।

Word by Word

• ईशविष्णुवर्कदेव्यादिकवचम्: the protective formula of Īśa, Viṣṇu, Arkadevī, etc.
• ईशविष्णुवर्कदेव्यादिकवचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्कदेवी (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः — ‘ईश-विष्णु-अर्कदेवी-आदि-सम्बद्धं कवचम्’

• सर्वसाधकम्: accomplishing all (purposes)
• सर्वसाधकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘सर्वं साधयति’ इति

• अमृतेशम्: Amṛteśa (Lord of nectar)
• अमृतेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः — ‘अमृतस्य ईशः’

• महामन्त्रत्र्यक्षरम्: the great three-syllabled mantra
• महामन्त्रत्र्यक्षरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रि (संख्या) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘महामन्त्र’ + ‘त्र्यक्षर’ (त्रि+अक्षर, द्विगु) — ‘three-syllabled great mantra’

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्-णिच् भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• समम्: equal (in merit)
• समम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘तुल्यम्’

• जपनात्: from (its) recitation
• जपनात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचनम्; ‘जप’ = repetition

• मृत्युहीनाः: free from death
• मृत्युहीनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘मृत्यु-हीन’ = ‘free from death’

• स्युः: may become/should be
• स्युः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• सर्वपापविवर्जिताः: devoid of all sins
• सर्वपापविवर्जिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त, वि-√वृज्/√वर्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) — ‘सर्वपापैः विवर्जिताः’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kavaca beginning with Īśa–Viṣṇu and other deities is universally accomplishing; tri-syllable Amṛteśa mantra-japa equals pūjā and removes untimely death and sins.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma/mantra as concentrated upāsanā; purification (pāpa-kṣaya) and protection as fruits of disciplined devotion.

Application: Adopt a daily kavaca recitation and tri-akṣara japa as a compact practice when full ritual is not possible; maintain ethical living to support pāpa-kṣaya claims.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/mantra-protective framework (kavaca and japa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: kavaca and rakṣā-mantra sections in ritual chapters; Garuda Purana: sin-removal and longevity claims tied to japa and devotion

Characters & Entities

• Īśa (Śiva)
• Viṣṇu
• Devī
• Amṛteśa

FAQs

What is the importance of kavacha and mantra-japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents kavacha and japa as practical spiritual tools: they are said to accomplish aims, function like full worship, and grant protection—especially against untimely death—while also reducing sin.

How does this verse relate to death-related concerns discussed in the Garuda Purana?

Although not describing Yama or the afterlife directly, it frames a preventive discipline: mantra-japa and protective recitation are recommended as safeguards that avert premature death and purify karmic burdens.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a steady practice of japa and devotional recitation (kavacha) with ethical living; the verse emphasizes regular repetition and worshipful intent as the core discipline for protection and purification.