Shloka 17

Śiva-taught Mantra-Weapons, Mudrās, and Rakṣā-Rites

Removal of Kīlaka; Protection from Nāga, Viṣa, Graha, and Storms

Devanagari script

ध्यात्वा कृतान्तं च दहेच्छेदकास्त्रेण वै जगत् / ॐ क्ष्णं (क्ष्म) नमः / ध्यात्वा तु भैरवं कुर्यान्द्रहभूतविषापहम्

Transliteration

dhyātvā kṛtāntaṃ ca dahecchedakāstreṇa vai jagat / oṃ kṣṇaṃ (kṣma) namaḥ / dhyātvā tu bhairavaṃ kuryāndrahabhūtaviṣāpaham

Translation

Sau khi thiền quán Kṛtānta (Yama, Đấng Kết Liễu), hành giả nên dùng vũ khí-mantra có năng lực chém cắt để thiêu đốt các thế lực hủy diệt trong thế gian. (Tụng:) “Oṃ kṣṇaṃ (hoặc kṣma) namaḥ.” Rồi thiền quán Bhairava và thực hành nghi thức trừ dứt các khổ nạn do graha, bhūta và độc tố gây ra.

Word by Word

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभावः (having meditated)

• कृतान्तम्: Kṛtānta (Yama; Death)
• कृतान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृतान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (यम/मृत्यु-देवता)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दहेत्: should burn
• दहेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (let him burn)

• छेदकास्त्रेण: with a cutting weapon
• छेदकास्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छेदक + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (छेदकं अस्त्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Emphasis (निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय/पादपूरण (indeed)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Mantra-invocation (मन्त्रारम्भ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव-उच्चारणम्; अव्यय

• क्ष्णं: kṣṇaṃ (seed syllable)
• क्ष्णं: Mantra-component (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्ष्णं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय)
• Form: बीजाक्षरम्; अव्यय

• क्ष्म: kṣma (variant seed syllable)
• क्ष्म: Mantra-component (मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्ष्म (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय)
• Form: बीजाक्षर-पर्याय/पाठभेद; अव्यय

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Prayojana (नमस्कारार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमः-शब्दः; अव्यय-प्रयोगः

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त; अव्ययभावः (having meditated)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• भैरवम्: Bhairava
• भैरवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (should do/perform)

• द्रहभूतविषापहम्: removing afflictions, spirits, and poison
• द्रहभूतविषापहम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रह + भूत + विष + अपह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाससमूहः; ‘अपह’ = अपहर्तृ (remover) इत्यर्थे; पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; भैरवम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Alignment with cosmic order (kāla/niyati) through fierce deities to remove adharma-born disturbances.

Vedantic Theme: Fear of death/time is transmuted by invoking the very principle of Time (Kṛtānta) as protector; śakti of mantra as instrument of niyama.

Application: In severe affliction (graha/bhūta/visha), perform japa with dhyāna of Kṛtānta and Bhairava, emphasizing ‘cutting/burning’ imagery to strengthen resolve and ritual focus.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: inner-visualization/ritual arena

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.20.16, 1.20.18-20 (same protective-mantra sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛtānta (Yama)
• Bhairava
• Grahas
• Bhūtas

FAQs

What is the importance of Kṛtānta (Yama) meditation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Kṛtānta-dhyāna as a forceful contemplative practice linked with an ‘astra’ (weapon-mantra) to destroy obstructive or harmful influences, aligning Yama with the principle of ending and cutting through negativity.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by invoking Kṛtānta (Yama), the text signals the spiritual reality of death and karmic order; the practice emphasizes purification and protection so that fear, disturbance, and impurity do not derail dharmic living and rites connected to death-related concerns.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder to combine disciplined contemplation (dhyāna) with ethical, protective practice—seeking clarity, reducing harmful influences (inner and outer), and approaching fear/illness/poison-like crises with steadiness and prayerful focus.