Shloka 55

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

पञ्चवक्त्रः कराग्रैः स्वैर्दशभिश्चैव धारयन् / अभयं प्रसादं शक्तिं शूलं खट्वाङ्गमीश्वरः

Transliteration

pañcavaktraḥ karāgraiḥ svairdaśabhiścaiva dhārayan / abhayaṃ prasādaṃ śaktiṃ śūlaṃ khaṭvāṅgamīśvaraḥ

Translation

Đấng Chúa Tể năm mặt, với mười tay, nơi đầu ngón tay kết ấn Vô Úy và ấn Ban Ân; lại mang các pháp khí—thương, tam xoa và khaṭvāṅga—hiển bày oai nghi thần thánh.

Word by Word

• pañca-vaktraḥ: five-faced
• pañca-vaktraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca + vaktra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—पञ्च वक्त्राणि यस्य

• kara-agraiḥ: with the tips of (his) hands
• kara-agraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—करस्य अग्रं (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• svaiḥ: his own
• svaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• daśabhiḥ: with ten
• daśabhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• dhārayan: holding/bearing
• dhārayan: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धातु) शतृ-प्रत्यय
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपद-प्रयोग; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘धारयन्’ = while holding

• abhayam: fearlessness (boon)
• abhayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• prasādam: grace/favor
• prasādam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śaktim: power/Śakti
• śaktim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śūlam: trident/spear
• śūlam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• khaṭvāṅgam: club with skull (khaṭvāṅga)
• khaṭvāṅgam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: khaṭvāṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation of Īśvara’s multi-faced, multi-armed sovereignty: fearlessness and grace are accessible through devotion and right vision.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the compassionate governor of māyā; surrender reduces fear and stabilizes mind for higher knowledge.

Application: In meditation, invoke abhaya (release anxiety) and prasāda (cultivate trust); let the imagery of weapons symbolize cutting ignorance and protecting dharma within oneself.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: deity-vision (dhyāna iconography)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23 (continuation of dhyāna-lakṣaṇa: faces, hands, weapons, mudrās)

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara (five-faced form, i.e., Shiva/Sadashiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of the five-faced (pañcavaktra) form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a five-faced Īśvara form as an emblem of divine sovereignty—protecting (abhaya) and blessing (prasāda) while wielding power (weapons), indicating both compassion and authority.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames the after-death teachings within divine protection and governance: the Lord who grants fearlessness and grace is also the cosmic authority who upholds order—an assurance to the soul amid descriptions of karmic consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Contemplate the balance of fearlessness and humility: seek divine grace (prasāda) through ethical living and devotion, while remembering that power (śakti/śūla) symbolizes disciplined action aligned with dharma.