Shloka 13

Navavyūha-pūjāvidhi: Bhūta-śuddhi, Nyāsa, Yogapīṭha, Maṇḍala-racanā, Mudrā-prayoga

Devanagari script

शिखायां तु शिखां न्यस्य कवचं सर्वतस्तनौ / नेत्रं नेत्रे विधातव्यमस्त्रञ्च करयोर्द्वयोः

Transliteration

śikhāyāṃ tu śikhāṃ nyasya kavacaṃ sarvatastanau / netraṃ netre vidhātavyamastrañca karayordvayoḥ

Translation

శిఖపై శిఖా-మంత్రాన్ని న్యసించి, కవచ-మంత్రాన్ని సమస్త దేహమంతటా స్థాపించాలి. నేత్ర-మంత్రాన్ని నేత్రాలపై, అస్త్ర-మంత్రాన్ని రెండు చేతులపై ఉంచాలి।

Word by Word

• शिखायाम्: in the topknot/crown-lock
• शिखायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात) — 'but/indeed'

• शिखाम्: the śikhā (mantra/seed)
• शिखाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/अव्ययभाव) — 'having placed'

• कवचम्: the kavaca (armor mantra)
• कवचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देश/परिमाण-क्रियाविशेषण) — 'on all sides/everywhere'

• तनौ: on the body
• तनौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — 'on the body'

• नेत्रम्: the netra (eye mantra)
• नेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• नेत्रे: in/on the eyes
• नेत्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• विधातव्यम्: should be applied
• विधातव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√धा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — 'is to be done/should be placed'

• अस्त्रम्: the astra (weapon mantra)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक)

• करयोः: of the two hands
• करयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन — 'of the two hands'

• द्वयोः: of the two
• द्वयोः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन — संख्याविशेषणम्; करयोः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a ritual-teaching context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rakṣā-vidhi: devotion expressed as protective sealing of body and senses to maintain purity and concentration.

Vedantic Theme: Indriya-nigraha (sense-guarding) as support for contemplation; protection symbolizes inner vigilance.

Application: Install śikhā-mantra at crown tuft, kavaca over the whole body, netra on the eyes, and astra on both hands before pūjā/japa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: body-mandala (crown tuft, whole body, eyes, hands)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11.14 (digbandha and worship procedure)

FAQs

What is the importance of śikhā, kavaca, netra, and astra in Garuda Purana rituals?

They are protective mantra-installations (nyāsa) assigned to specific body-points—tuft, whole body, eyes, and hands—meant to seal the practitioner with ritual protection before or during sacred practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

This verse is primarily about ritual protection through nyāsa rather than the post-death journey; it supports dhārmic practice by prescribing safeguards that prepare the practitioner for disciplined spiritual and ceremonial action.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach prayers and rites with method and mindfulness—begin with a clear protective intention (mental “armor”), disciplined senses (eyes), and ethically guided actions (hands).