Shloka 11

Durgā Pūjā, 108-Nāma Japa, and Protective Homa in Preta-Kalpa Observance

Devanagari script

अष्टाविंशभुजा ध्येया अष्टादशभुजाथवा / द्वादशाष्टभुजा वापि ध्येया वापि चतुर्भुजा

Transliteration

aṣṭāviṃśabhujā dhyeyā aṣṭādaśabhujāthavā / dvādaśāṣṭabhujā vāpi dhyeyā vāpi caturbhujā

Translation

تُتَأمَّل في الدهيانا على أنها ذات ثمانٍ وعشرين ذراعًا، أو ثماني عشرة؛ أو كذلك ذات اثنتي عشرة أو ثماني أذرع؛ بل حتى ذات أربع أذرع—فكلّ هذه الصور صالحة للتأمّل.

Word by Word

• अष्टाविंशभुजा: having twenty-eight arms
• अष्टाविंशभुजा: Visheshya (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टा + विंशति + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः; (देवी/मूर्ति) विशेषणम्

• ध्येया: to be meditated upon
• ध्येया: Karya (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (कृदन्त; ध्यै धातोः -अनीय/यत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; ‘to be meditated upon’

• अष्टादशभुजा: having eighteen arms
• अष्टादशभुजा: Visheshya (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + दश + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ + वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or else)

• द्वादशाष्टभुजा: having twelve (or eight) arms
• द्वादशाष्टभुजा: Visheshya (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश + अष्ट + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः (12 or 8 arms, as a combined option)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक (also/even)

• ध्येया: to be meditated upon
• ध्येया: Karya (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (कृदन्त; ध्यै)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक (also)

• चतुर्भुजा: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजा: Visheshya (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upāsanā can adopt multiple sanctioned forms; the deity’s essence is approachable through diverse iconographies.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā as a support for concentration (ekāgratā); nāma-rūpa plurality pointing toward one underlying tattva.

Application: Choose a form that stabilizes attention; remain respectful toward other lineages’ depictions; use consistent visualization for a set period.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: inner-vision (dhyāna) / shrine icon-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.38.12-13 (weapon/attribute listing for the many-armed form)

FAQs

What is the importance of multi-armed forms in Garuda Purana meditation?

This verse permits multiple iconographic forms for contemplation, indicating that sincere dhyāna can be performed using different traditional visualizations rather than insisting on a single fixed form.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined meditation (dhyāna) as a means of inner purification and steadiness, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as supportive for dharma and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a traditional form of the deity that your lineage/teacher prescribes (or that aids concentration), and practice consistent visualization during japa or puja without anxiety about “only one correct” depiction.