Shloka 2

Devanagari script

ऌकारो विश्रुता सेवं लाङ्गलीषा मनीपया / गङ्गोदकं तवल्कार ऋणार्णं प्रार्णमित्यपि

Transliteration

ḷkāro viśrutā sevaṃ lāṅgalīṣā manīpayā / gaṅgodakaṃ tavalkāra ṛṇārṇaṃ prārṇamityapi

Translation

حرفِ ‘ऌ/لِ’ بعض منتر-پروگوں میں ‘سیوَ’, ‘لانگلیشا’, ‘منیپیا’ وغیرہ میں مشہور ہے؛ نیز گنگا-جل سے متعلق الفاظ میں اور ‘تولکار’, ‘ऋणار्ण’, ‘پرار्ण’ جیسے الفاظ میں بھی آتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• ऌकारः: the letter/sound ḷ (ḷkāra)
• ऌकारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऌकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विश्रुता: well-known
• विश्रुता: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत (कृदन्त; श्रु धातोः क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• सेवम्: service / attendance
• सेवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• लाङ्गलीषा: Lāṅgalīṣā (name/term)
• लाङ्गलीषा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गलीषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मनीपया: by/with Manīpā (name/term)
• मनीपया: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• गङ्गोदकम्: water of the Ganges
• गङ्गोदकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तवल्कार: Tavalkāra (name/term)
• तवल्कार: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तवल्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (पाठे रूप-भेद/अशुद्धि सम्भाव्या)

• ऋणार्णम्: debt/loan (lit. ‘debt-flood’)
• ऋणार्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्रार्णम्: Prārṇa (term/name)
• प्रार्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + अर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-निपात (quotative particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Emphasis/Addition
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपात (particle: also/even)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Precision of śabda (phoneme/letter) and correct ritual utterance matters; even rare phonetic elements are preserved in specific ritual terms.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa: sacred sound as a carrier of meaning and efficacy when aligned with vidhi.

Application: In mantra/ritual recitation, learn correct pronunciation and traditional word-forms; consult competent teachers for uncommon phonemes.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river/tīrtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Śrāddha sections emphasizing correct mantra and procedure (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Ganga

FAQs

What is the importance of correct syllables (like ḷkāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the phoneme ‘ḷ’ as a recognized component within specific ritual/lexical expressions, implying that accurate pronunciation and preservation of such forms matters in traditional recitation and rite-language.

How does this verse relate to purification practices like using Ganges water?

By explicitly mentioning gaṅgodaka (Ganges water) alongside ritual word-forms, the verse links sacred substances and correct ritual terminology—both are treated as part of the technical framework of purification-oriented practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha, tarpaṇa, or any mantra-based rite, follow a reliable text/teacher for pronunciation and wording, and use sanctified water (traditionally Gaṅgā-jala) with clarity of intent and disciplined conduct.