Shloka 15

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

जप्त्वा दशाक्षरीं विद्यां नासौ केनापि बध्यते / पञ्च (ञ्चा) दशाङ्गुलं खड्गं त्रिशूलं च ततो यजेत् / लिङ्गस्यां पूजयेद्वापि पादुके ऽथ जले ऽपि वा

Transliteration

japtvā daśākṣarīṃ vidyāṃ nāsau kenāpi badhyate / pañca (ñcā) daśāṅgulaṃ khaḍgaṃ triśūlaṃ ca tato yajet / liṅgasyāṃ pūjayedvāpi pāduke 'tha jale 'pi vā

Translation

เมื่อสวดวิทยามนต์สิบพยางค์แล้ว ผู้นั้นย่อมไม่ถูกผู้ใดผูกมัด ต่อจากนั้นพึงบูชาดาบยาวสิบห้าอังคุละและตรีศูล; หรือจะบูชาบนลึงค์ บนปาทุกา หรือแม้ในน้ำก็ได้

Word by Word

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Kriya (Gerundial/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘जपित्वा’; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• दश-अक्षरीम्: ten-syllabled
• दश-अक्षरीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश अक्षराणि यस्याः)

• विद्याम्: mantra/knowledge
• विद्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• असौ: that person/he
• असौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• केन: by whom/with what
• केन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘even/also’)

• बध्यते: is bound
• बध्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive: ‘is bound’)

• पञ्चदश: fifteen
• पञ्चदश: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + दश (संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-समस्तपदम्; (पञ्च + दश = 15)

• अङ्गुलम्: a finger-breadth (measure)
• अङ्गुलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक

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

• त्रिशूलम्: trident
• त्रिशूलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि शूलानि/त्रिशूलम्)

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

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमार्थक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लिङ्गस्याम्: on/in the liṅga (emblem)
• लिङ्गस्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; (पाठः ‘लिङ्गे’ अपेक्ष्य; ‘लिङ्गस्याम्’ = लिङ्गे/लिङ्गस्थाने)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (particle: ‘also/even’)

• पादुके: in the pair of sandals
• पादुके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सप्तमी-रूपम् (contextually सप्तमी-अधिकरण: ‘in the sandals’)

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘then/now’)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘also’)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra; traditional dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-japa and prescribed worship (upāsanā/arcana) confer protection and freedom from binding forces (bandhana).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-upāsanā purifies and fortifies the mind; mantra as śabda-śakti leading toward inner fearlessness.

Application: Regularly recite the daśākṣarī vidyā; perform simple, consistent worship of symbolic implements (sword/trident) even with limited resources (on liṅga, sandals, or water) as a portable protective practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.133.11-14 (iconography and fierce forms that contextualize the mantra/puja)

Characters & Entities

• (Implied) Vishnu
• (Implied) Shiva (liṅga)
• Garuda (contextual listener)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Daśākṣarī vidyā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that recitation of the ten-syllabled vidyā removes “bondage”—i.e., one is not restrained or overpowered by external forces—highlighting japa as a direct protective spiritual practice.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

It links mantra-recitation with specific ritual worship (yajet/pūjayet) of symbolic weapons—sword and trident—showing a combined approach of japa plus upāsanā for protection and efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain disciplined mantra-japa and pair it with simple, respectful worship according to one’s tradition (at a shrine/altar, symbolically, or with water-offerings), focusing on inner restraint, courage, and ethical conduct.