Shloka 35

Devanagari script

धर्मकामार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं स्वकण्ठे धारयाम्यहम् / वनमालां समभ्यर्च्य स्वेन मन्त्रेण दापयेत्

Transliteration

dharmakāmārthasiddhyarthaṃ svakaṇṭhe dhārayāmyaham / vanamālāṃ samabhyarcya svena mantreṇa dāpayet

Translation

“دھرم، کام اور ارتھ کی سِدھی کے لیے میں اسے اپنے گلے میں دھارتا ہوں۔” ونمالا کی باقاعدہ پوجا کرکے اپنے ہی منتر سے اسے پہنایا جائے۔

Word by Word

• धर्मकामार्थसिद्ध्यर्थम्: for attaining dharma, desire, and prosperity (and success)
• धर्मकामार्थसिद्ध्यर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन — प्रयोजनवाचक (for the sake of accomplishment of dharma, kāma, artha)

• स्वकण्ठे: on one’s own neck
• स्वकण्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति; एकवचन — अधिकरण (location)

• धारयामि: I wear/hold
• धारयामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘I wear/hold’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य)

• वनमालाम्: a forest garland
• वनमालाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन — ‘वन-माला’ (garland of forest-flowers)

• समभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped (properly)
• समभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + अभि√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकाले कृत्य — ‘having duly worshipped’

• स्वेन: with one’s own
• स्वेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन — विशेषण (instrumental ‘with one’s own’)

• मन्त्रेण: with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• दापयेत्: should have (it) given / should cause to give
• दापयेत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु) [णिच् causative: दापय]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) — ‘he should cause (someone) to give’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Consecrated wearing of a worshipped garland, empowered by mantra, is framed as supportive of dharma-kāma-artha attainment.

Vedantic Theme: Sanctification of embodied life (pravṛtti) through devotion; aligning puruṣārthas under īśvara-sambandha.

Application: Before wearing devotional symbols (mālā/tilaka), consecrate them with mantra and intention; pursue artha and kāma within dharma, anchored in worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: temple/household shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (mālā/pavitra and mantra-vidhi sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Vana-mālā

FAQs

What is the importance of the vana-mālā (forest garland) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the vana-mālā as a devotional, consecrated item associated with Viṣṇu, used to support the attainment of dharma, artha, and kāma when worshipped and then worn/placed with mantra.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic ritual and devotion (upāsanā) as supports for right living and merit, which the Garuḍa Purāṇa repeatedly treats as shaping one’s post-death trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform devotional worship with clarity and reverence, then use sacred items (like a garland offered to Viṣṇu) in a disciplined, mantra-guided way—treating ritual as an aid to ethical living and spiritual focus.