Shloka 49

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

मुद्राणां धारणे चैव शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् / पद्मं नारायणीं मुद्रां क्रुद्धोल्कादींश्च संस्मरेत्

Transliteration

mudrāṇāṃ dhāraṇe caiva śaṅkhacakragadādharam / padmaṃ nārāyaṇīṃ mudrāṃ kruddholkādīṃśca saṃsmaret

Translation

मुद्राधारणे चैव शङ्खचक्रगदाधरं प्रभुं संस्मरेत्; पद्मं नारायणीं मुद्रां तथा क्रुद्धोल्कादीन् रक्षकरूपान् स्मरेत्।

Word by Word

• मुद्राणाम्: of the seals/hand-signs
• मुद्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• धारणे: in wearing/holding
• धारणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धरम्: the bearer of conch, discus, and mace
• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शङ्खं चक्रं गदां च धरति)

• पद्मम्: the lotus (mudrā)
• पद्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नारायणीम्: Nārāyaṇī (pertaining to Nārāyaṇa)
• नारायणीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (mudrām इति)

• मुद्राम्: mudrā (seal/gesture)
• मुद्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• क्रुद्ध-उल्क-आदीन्: (names) beginning with Kruddholka etc.
• क्रुद्ध-उल्क-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + उल्का (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = and others; क्रुद्धोल्क-आदि (beginning with Kruddholka)

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

• संस्मरेत्: should remember
• संस्मरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) with सम्-उपसर्ग
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied devotion: remembering Śaṅkha-Cakra-Gadā-dhara while assuming mudrās; invoking Nārāyaṇī and protective fierce forms for spiritual safeguarding.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā that disciplines body-mind; symbols (āyudha, mudrā) focus citta and reinforce surrender (śaraṇāgati).

Application: During ritual gestures/markings (mudrā), consciously visualize Vishnu with conch-disc-mace; use protective invocations when beginning travel, worship, or vulnerable transitions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29.48 (tilaka and Dvādaśa-nāma); Garuda Purana 3.29.50 (sandhyā and śrāddha remembrance)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana (Vishnu)
• Shankha
• Chakra
• Gada
• Padma
• Narayani Mudra
• Kruddholka (protective form/name)

FAQs

What is the importance of mudrā-dhāraṇa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links mudrā-dhāraṇa with smaraṇa (remembrance) of Nārāyaṇa’s protective forms, indicating that correct ritual sealing/gestures are strengthened by focused devotion and recollection.

How does this verse relate to protection in rites connected with the Garuda Purana?

By prescribing remembrance of Viṣṇu as Śaṅkha-Cakra-Gadādhara along with specific mudrās and fierce protective forms, the verse frames ritual performance as a spiritual safeguard against obstacles and fear.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During prayer or any traditional rite, combine correct gestures/ritual steps with mindful remembrance of Viṣṇu’s protective attributes—keeping attention steady rather than treating the practice as mechanical.