Shloka 43

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

खं मुखे नासिके वायुं नेत्रे सूर्यं श्रुती (तीर्दि) दिशः / प्राणग्रन्थिमथो नाभिं ब्रह्माणं हृदये स्पृशेत्

Transliteration

khaṃ mukhe nāsike vāyuṃ netre sūryaṃ śrutī (tīrdi) diśaḥ / prāṇagranthimatho nābhiṃ brahmāṇaṃ hṛdaye spṛśet

Translation

ليتأمّل المرءُ الفضاء في الفم، والهواء في المنخرين، والشمس في العينين، والجهات في الأذنين؛ ثم ليضع وعيه على عقدة الحياة، وعلى السُّرّة، وعلى براهما في القلب.

Word by Word

• खम्: space/ether
• खम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• मुखे: in the mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• नासिके: in the nose
• नासिके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• वायुम्: wind/breath
• वायुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• नेत्रे: in the eye(s)
• नेत्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (द्विनेत्रयोः अर्थे स्थानवाचक)

• सूर्यम्: the sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• श्रुती: the two ears
• श्रुती: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), द्विवचन (कर्णयोः)

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• प्राणग्रन्थिम्: the knot of prāṇa (vital knot)
• प्राणग्रन्थिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रन्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्राणस्य ग्रन्थिः)

• अथो: then/and then
• अथो: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय) + उ (निपात)
• Form: निपात/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (then/and then)

• नाभिम्: the navel
• नाभिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devatā-bhūta-nyāsa: contemplate space, wind, sun, directions, prāṇa-knot, navel, and Brahmā in the heart as an internal consecration.

Vedantic Theme: Piṇḍa–brahmāṇḍa-sāmya (microcosm–macrocosm correspondence) supporting concentration and purity of mind.

Application: During morning practice, perform mental nyāsa: place attention sequentially on mouth/nose/eyes/ears, then prāṇa-granthi, nābhi, and heart; use steady breath and visualization.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.44–46 (continuation of aṅga-nyāsa and purification)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Brahma
• Dikpalas (Directions)
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of mapping elements to sense-organs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches an inner ritual (nyāsa/dhāraṇā) where the practitioner aligns sense-organs with cosmic principles, turning external worship into subtle-body purification and concentration.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing prāṇa, the heart, and the ‘vital knot’ (prāṇa-granthi), it points to the subtle-body framework through which consciousness and life-force are understood to operate—central to Garuda Purana discussions on death, transition, and inner disciplines.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a brief contemplative scan: steady the breath (vāyu), focus the gaze softly (sūrya principle), listen inwardly (directions in ears), and settle awareness in the heart—supporting calmness, ethical clarity, and disciplined ritual practice.