Shloka 4

The Procedure of Worship (Śrīdharapūjā-vidhi)

Devanagari script

ततस्तं पूजयेद्देवं मण्डले स्वस्तिकादिके / आसनं पूजयेदादौ देवदेवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः / एबिर्मन्त्रैर्महादेव तान्मत्राञ्छृणु शङ्कर

Transliteration

tatastaṃ pūjayeddevaṃ maṇḍale svastikādike / āsanaṃ pūjayedādau devadevasya śārṅgiṇaḥ / ebirmantrairmahādeva tānmatrāñchṛṇu śaṅkara

Translation

ثم ينبغي أن يُعبَد ذلك الربّ في مَنْدَلا مُقدَّسة مُعلَّمة بعلاماتٍ مباركة مثل السْفَسْتِكا. وأولاً يُكرَّم الآسَنَة، مقعدُ شَارَنْغِينَا—فيشنو، إلهُ الآلهة، حاملُ قوسِ شَارَنْغا. يا مهاديڤا، يا شانكرا، اصغِ إلى تلك المانترا المستعملة في هذه العبادة.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध-क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थः ‘ततः/अनन्तरम्’

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार देवम्), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ) परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: पूज् = to worship

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

• maṇḍale: in the ritual diagram/circle
• maṇḍale: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• svastikādike: (in a maṇḍala) with svastika etc.
• svastikādike: Adhikarana (Qualifier of location/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svastika + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः ‘स्वस्तिक-आदि’ = svastika and the like; विशेषणम् (maṇḍale)

• āsanam: the seat (āsana)
• āsanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ) परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ādau: at first
• ādau: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; ‘प्रथमम्’

• devadevasya: of the God of gods
• devadevasya: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘देवानां देवः’

• śārṅgiṇaḥ: of Śārṅgin (Viṣṇu)
• śārṅgiṇaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārṅgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः उपनाम (धनुषः ‘शार्ङ्ग’ धारकः)

• ebhiḥ: with these
• ebhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• mantraiḥ: by mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• mahādeva: O Mahādeva
• mahādeva: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् देवः’

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (मन्त्रान् सूचयति)

• mantrān: mantras
• mantrān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: श्रु = to hear

• śaṅkara: O Śaṅkara
• śaṅkara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative instruction style; addressed to Shiva as 'Mahadeva/Shankara' within the verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Approach to the Supreme through orderly upacāra—beginning with āsana-pūjā in an auspicious maṇḍala—so the deity is welcomed and stabilized in worship.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-brahma upāsanā: the formless is approached through form, name, and rite; purity of means supports purity of mind (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Create a clean worship space; draw/prepare a simple maṇḍala with auspicious marks; begin pūjā by honoring the seat and the deity’s presence before other offerings; recite mantras with attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (maṇḍala/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30.5-1.30.8 (āsana-devatā āvāhana; nyāsa-like salutations; Hari-āvāhana; sin-destroying mantras)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Śārṅgiṇa)
• Shiva (Mahādeva, Śaṅkara)
• Svastika
• Maṇḍala

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Vishnu in a mandala with a svastika in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the puja as beginning with a consecrated ritual space (maṇḍala) marked by auspicious symbols like the svastika, indicating order, sanctity, and invocatory auspiciousness before mantra-recitation.

How does this verse explain the correct sequence of worship (pūjā-krama)?

It specifies that one should first worship the deity’s seat (āsana) and then proceed with worship using the prescribed mantras—highlighting a formal step-by-step ritual structure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any devotional practice with a clean, intentional space and a clear sequence—prepare the seat/place of worship, then recite mantras with attention and reverence rather than rushing into rituals.