Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

शतजप्याद्वेदफलं यज्ञतीर्थफलं लभेत् / अष्टोत्तरशताज्जाप्यात्रिसन्ध्यं मृत्यु शत्रुजित

Transliteration

śatajapyādvedaphalaṃ yajñatīrthaphalaṃ labhet / aṣṭottaraśatājjāpyātrisandhyaṃ mṛtyu śatrujita

Translation

వంద జపాలు చేస్తే వేదాధ్యయన ఫలమూ, యజ్ఞ-తీర్థ ఫలమూ లభిస్తాయి. నూట ఎనిమిది జపాలను త్రిసంధ్యలలో (ప్రాతః, మధ్యాహ్న, సాయంకాలం) చేస్తే సాధకుడు మృత్యువును, శత్రువులను జయిస్తాడు.

Word by Word

• शतजप्यात्: from a hundred recitations
• शतजप्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + जप्य (कृदन्त, √जप्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचनम्; ‘शत-जप्य’ = ‘hundredfold recitation’

• वेदफलम्: the fruit of the Vedas
• वेदफलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘वेदस्य फलम्’

• यज्ञतीर्थफलम्: the fruit of sacrifices and pilgrimages
• यज्ञतीर्थफलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘यज्ञ-तीर्थयोः फलम्’ (समाहार)

• लभेत्: one should obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• अष्टोत्तरशतात्: from one hundred and eight (recitations)
• अष्टोत्तरशतात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टोत्तरशत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; संख्या-समास: अष्ट + उत्तर + शत (108)

• जाप्य: recitation (japa)
• जाप्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (ण्यत्/यत्) — ‘जपनीयम्/जपः’ (recitation); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (सन्दर्भानुसार)

• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: at the three daily times
• त्रिसन्ध्यम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (कालवाचक) — ‘त्रिसन्ध्यम्’ = ‘at the three junctions (dawn/noon/dusk)’

• मृत्यु: O Death / death
• मृत्यु: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (पाठे सम्भाव्यः सम्बोधनः)

• शत्रुजित: O conqueror of enemies
• शत्रुजित: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + जित् (कृदन्त, √जि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन/प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; ‘शत्रून् जयति’ इति (agent noun)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Measured japa yields great puṇya—equated to Veda-study, yajña, and tīrtha; tri-sandhyā 108-japa grants victory over death and enemies.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and repetition (abhyāsa) purify and empower; sacred time amplifies sādhana.

Application: Establish a daily routine: 108 recitations at dawn/noon/dusk; treat it as a sustainable substitute/complement to larger rites when resources are limited.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual time-cycle (kāla-mandala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: japa-phala and sandhyā-related observances in ritual/dharma portions; Garuda Purana: merit equivalence statements (tulya-phala) used to motivate practice

FAQs

What is the importance of japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse elevates japa as a concentrated practice that can yield the same spiritual merit as Vedic study, yajñas, and tīrtha-yātrā when done with prescribed count and discipline.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing post-death geography here, the verse points to a preventative dharmic discipline—regular tri-sandhyā japa—that strengthens spiritual merit and is praised as ‘victory over death,’ i.e., mastery over mortality through sustained sādhana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a daily japa routine—ideally at morning, midday, and evening—keeping a consistent count (100 or 108), treating it as a steady dharma practice rather than an occasional ritual.