Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

अधर्ंमाद्यं च वह्न्यादौ मध्ये पद्मस्य कर्णिके / वामाज्येष्ठा च पूर्वादौ रौद्री काली च पूर्षदः

Transliteration

adharṃmādyaṃ ca vahnyādau madhye padmasya karṇike / vāmājyeṣṭhā ca pūrvādau raudrī kālī ca pūrṣadaḥ

Translation

ابتداءً بأدهرما (Adharma) وأغني (Agni)، مرتَّبين بحسب جهاتهم، يُوضَعون داخل اللوتس—وفي الوسط كَرْنِكا (لبّها). وتُثبَّت فاما (Vāmā) وجييشثا (Jyeṣṭhā) من مبتدأ الشرق؛ وكذلك راودري (Raudrī) وكالي (Kālī) مع بوروشادا (Pūruṣada) في مواضعهم.

Word by Word

• अधर्माद्यम्: Adharma and the rest
• अधर्माद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहारार्थ (beginning with Adharma etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वह्न्यादौ: in/at Agni and the others (fire etc.)
• वह्न्यादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (वह्न्यादिषु = in Agni etc./in the fire-direction etc.)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पद्मस्य: of the lotus
• पद्मस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• कर्णिके: in the pericarp
• कर्णिके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वामा: Vāmā (name)
• वामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठा: Jyeṣṭhā (name)
• ज्येष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूर्वादौ: in the east etc.
• पूर्वादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पूर्वादिषु = in the east etc.)

• रौद्री: Raudrī (name)
• रौद्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• काली: Kālī (name)
• काली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूरषदः: Pūrṣadas (a class/name; uncertain)
• पूरषदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरषद्/पूरषद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (पाठानुसार); रूपं दुरूह/पाठभेदसम्भव

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Forces of order and disorder are not denied but ritually located and subordinated; the mandala integrates opposites to prevent psychic and ritual imbalance.

Vedantic Theme: Transcending dvandva by witnessing and containing; prakṛti’s guṇas and their fierce forms are placed under conscious regulation.

Application: In contemplative practice, acknowledge negative impulses (adharma) without suppression; ‘place’ them at the periphery under discipline, keeping the center (karnikā) clear and steady.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: inner mandala/lotus diagram

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.16–20 (āvaraṇa-devatā placement and mantra sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Adharma
• Agni (Vahni)
• Vāmā
• Jyeṣṭhā
• Raudrī
• Kālī
• Pūruṣada

FAQs

What is the importance of lotus (padma) placement in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse indicates a structured, directional placement of forces/deities within a lotus diagram, implying ritual order (nyāsa/maṇḍala) used to protect and regulate the rite.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death practices?

While not describing the soul’s travel directly, it supports the ritual technology often associated with funerary and protective procedures—arranging powers in a lotus to safeguard transitions and remove obstacles.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain discipline and clarity in any sacred practice: follow an ordered method, keep ethical conduct (avoid adharma), and treat rituals as structured acts of remembrance and protection rather than improvisation.