Shloka 6

Devanagari script

आसनं मूर्तिमन्त्रं च होमाद्यङ्गषडङ्गकम् / चक्रं गदां च खड्गं च मुसलं शंमखशर्ङ्गकम्

Transliteration

āsanaṃ mūrtimantraṃ ca homādyaṅgaṣaḍaṅgakam / cakraṃ gadāṃ ca khaḍgaṃ ca musalaṃ śaṃmakhaśarṅgakam

Translation

आसनं मूर्तिमन्त्रं च होमाद्यङ्गषडङ्गकं च विन्यसेत्; चक्रं गदां खड्गं मुसलं शङ्खं शार्ङ्गं च सम्यक् समायोजयेत्।

Word by Word

• आसनम्: seat; posture
• आसनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• मूर्तिमन्त्रम्: the mantra of the form (mūrti-mantra)
• मूर्तिमन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मूर्तेः मन्त्रः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• होमाद्यङ्गषडङ्गकम्: the sixfold set of limbs beginning with homa
• होमाद्यङ्गषडङ्गकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + षड् (संख्या) + अङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—(होम-आदि-अङ्ग) + षडङ्गक; अर्थः ‘होमादीनि अङ्गानि यस्य तत्/षडङ्गकम्’ (प्रयोगे तत्पुरुष-समाहार)

• चक्रम्: discus
• चक्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• गदाम्: mace
• गदाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• खड्गम्: sword
• खड्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• मुसलम्: club; pestle
• मुसलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• शंमखशर्ङ्गकम्: conch and Śārṅga (bow)
• शंमखशर्ङ्गकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + कम्/क (प्रातिपदिक-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (शङ्खश्च शार्ङ्गश्च) समाहाररूपेण

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upāsanā is made complete by proper aṅgas (homa etc.), mantra, and visualization of the Lord’s weapons as protective and sovereign powers.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-brahma upāsanā as a means to citta-śuddhi and steadiness of devotion.

Application: In Viṣṇu-pūjā, arrange āsana, mūrti/mantra, ṣaḍaṅga and homa-aṅgas, and contemplate the āyudhas as guardians of the rite and the sādhaka.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space/altar (mandala or shrine)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30 (pūjanavidhi and nyāsa continues the same ritual sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sudarshana Chakra
• Kaumodaki (mace)
• Shankha
• Sharnga (bow)

FAQs

What is the importance of listing Vishnu’s weapons in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames a ritual setup where Viṣṇu is invoked with his defining emblems; the weapons and symbols function as markers of divine presence and protective power within worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct worship and ritual completeness (mantra, homa, and auxiliaries), which the Garuḍa Purāṇa presents as supportive of dharma and spiritual well-being, foundational themes for later teachings on death rites and the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain clarity and completeness in spiritual practice—use a dedicated place (āsana), consistent mantra discipline, and (where appropriate) traditional offerings—centering devotion on the deity’s qualities symbolized by the conch, discus, mace, and bow.