Shloka 12

The Procedure of Worship (Śrīdharapūjā-vidhi)

Devanagari script

ततो मुहूर्तमेकन्तुध्यायेद्देवं हृदि स्थितम् / शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभम्

Transliteration

tato muhūrtamekantudhyāyeddevaṃ hṛdi sthitam / śuddhasphaṭikasaṃkāśaṃ sūryakoṭisamaprabham

Translation

ثم في خلوةٍ وسكون، ليتأمّل المرء مدةَ مُهورتا واحدة في الربّ القائم في القلب—متلألئًا كالكريستال النقي، ذا بهاءٍ يضاهي عشرةَ ملايين شمس.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (Temporal/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (thereafter)

• muhūrtam: for a muhūrta (a while)
• muhūrtam: Karma (Measure/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muhūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कालपरिमाण

• ekam: one
• ekam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘मुहूर्तम्’ इति विशेषण

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (but/indeed)

• dhyāyet: should meditate
• dhyāyet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (ध्यै धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √ध्यै (to meditate)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• hṛdi: in the heart
• hṛdi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• sthitam: situated; abiding
• sthitam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; ‘देवम्’ इति विशेषण

• śuddha-sphaṭika-saṃkāśam: resembling pure crystal
• śuddha-sphaṭika-saṃkāśam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + sphaṭika (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (like pure crystal)

• sūrya-koṭi-sama-prabham: having splendor equal to ten million suns
• sūrya-koṭi-sama-prabham: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhā/prabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (having radiance equal to crores of suns)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antar-dhyāna on the Paramātmā: the Lord abides in the heart, self-luminous, surpassing ordinary perception.

Vedantic Theme: Jyotiḥ-svarūpa and antaryāmin: the Self/Lord as inner light; meditation as means to citta-śuddhi and sākṣātkāra.

Application: After japa, sit alone for a fixed time (muhūrta or shorter) and visualize/feel the heart-center as clear, luminous, and steady; let thoughts dissolve into that clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner sanctum (antar-gṛha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30.13 (form details supporting visualization)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Deva)

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on the Lord in the heart in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes antaryāmi-dhyāna—contemplating the Divine as inwardly present—supporting purification of mind and steadiness that lead toward liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By directing attention to the indwelling Lord’s radiant presence, it points to an inward, purifying discipline that prepares the jīva for freedom from fear and bondage, complementing the Purana’s broader teachings on death, rites, and liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Set aside a fixed daily period for silent, single-pointed meditation on the Divine within—using the imagery of pure crystal radiance—to cultivate clarity, restraint, and ethical living.