Shloka 25

Pretaśilā at Gayā: Muṇḍapṛṣṭha, Gadādhara’s Manifestation, and the Fruits of Śrāddha & Deity-Worship

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रपालं समभ्यर्च्य ग्रहवृन्दैः प्रमुच्यते / मुण्डपृष्ठं समभ्यर्च्य सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

kṣetrapālaṃ samabhyarcya grahavṛndaiḥ pramucyate / muṇḍapṛṣṭhaṃ samabhyarcya sarvakāmamavāpnuyāt

Translation

如法礼拜刹特罗波罗（Kṣetrapāla，护域神），便能解脱群星诸曜（诸行星）所致的诸般困厄；如法供奉蒙陀普利什塔（Muṇḍapṛṣṭha），则可成就一切所愿。

Word by Word

• क्षेत्रपालम्: guardian of the sacred place (Kṣetrapāla)
• क्षेत्रपालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रस्य पालः)

• समभ्यर्च्य: having duly worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• ग्रहवृन्दैः: from groups of planets (grahas)
• ग्रहवृन्दैः: Apadana/Hetu (Cause/Source; from)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + वृन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/हेतु), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ग्रहाणां वृन्दम्)

• प्रमुच्यते: is freed
• प्रमुच्यते: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• मुण्डपृष्ठम्: Muṇḍapṛṣṭha (a deity/epithet)
• मुण्डपृष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (मुण्डं पृष्ठं यस्य/मुण्डस्य पृष्ठम्)

• समभ्यर्च्य: having duly worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• सर्वकामम्: every desired object; all wishes
• सर्वकामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (सर्वः कामः)

• अवाप्नुयात्: may obtain
• अवाप्नुयात्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Planetary troubles (graha-doṣa) and obstacles are mitigated through propitiation of protective deities; desire-fulfillment is framed as a fruit of worship.

Vedantic Theme: Karmic conditions appear as ‘graha’ influences; upāsanā functions as a remedial alignment within dharmic order.

Application: At the start of ventures or when facing ‘graha’ anxiety, perform kṣetrapāla pūjā at a temple boundary; pair with ethical living and practical planning; avoid fatalism.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: kṣetra (sacred precinct)/boundary shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.86 (remedial worship for specific afflictions)

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapāla
• Grahas (Navagraha influences)
• Muṇḍapṛṣṭha

FAQs

What is the importance of Kṣetrapāla worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Kṣetrapāla as a protective guardian whose proper worship is said to relieve a person from the distressing effects attributed to the grahas (planetary influences).

How does this verse relate to suffering and its causes in the Garuda Purana?

Here, suffering is framed in practical ritual terms as “graha-affliction”; the text recommends devotional worship of specific guardian deities as a remedial means to remove such obstacles.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows this tradition, it encourages disciplined worship, ethical living, and seeking protection through dharmic means—especially when facing fear, instability, or recurring obstacles associated with ‘graha’ troubles.