Shloka 16

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing Hari with the Pavitra

Devanagari script

विमाने स्थण्डिले चैव एतत्सामान्यलक्षणम् / शिवोद्धृतं पवित्रं तु प्रतिमायां च कारयेत्

Transliteration

vimāne sthaṇḍile caiva etatsāmānyalakṣaṇam / śivoddhṛtaṃ pavitraṃ tu pratimāyāṃ ca kārayet

Translation

سواء أكان ذلك في الـڤيمانا (مقصورة المعبد) أم على الـسْثَڼْدِلا (مذبح الأرض المُكرَّس)، فهذه هي العلامات العامة. وينبغي كذلك إجراء طقس التطهير والتقديس (پَڤِتْرَ) المنسوب إلى تأسيس شِڤا، من أجل الصورة المقدّسة (پْرَتِما).

Word by Word

• विमाने: in a vimāna/temple structure
• विमाने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्थण्डिले: on the ground/altar-spot
• स्थण्डिले: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सामान्यलक्षणम्: general characteristic
• सामान्यलक्षणम्: Karta/Karma (Predicate noun/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सामान्यं लक्षणम्)

• शिवोद्धृतम्: taken from/raised by Śiva
• शिवोद्धृतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धृत (उद्+हृ धातु; क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवेन उद्धृतम्/शिवात् उद्धृतम्)

• पवित्रम्: a sacred thread/amulet (pavitra)
• पवित्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

• प्रतिमायाम्: in/on an image (idol)
• प्रतिमायाम्: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• कारयेत्: should cause to be made/should have made
• कारयेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रेरण (causative); विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Universality of ritual marks and the necessity of sanctification (pavitrīkaraṇa) for both place and image.

Vedantic Theme: Sacred form (mūrti) as a support for devotion; purity of upacāra enabling focused bhakti and right action.

Application: Apply the same general criteria for pavitraka/marks in both permanent shrines and temporary altars; ensure the image also receives the prescribed sanctifying rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple-shrine / consecrated ground-altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (pavitraka-lakṣaṇa; transition from measurement to application in shrine/altar and image)

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Pratimā (sacred image)
• Vimāna (temple shrine)
• Sthaṇḍila (ritual altar ground)

FAQs

What is the importance of the pavitra rite in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pavitra as a formal sanctifying/consecratory act that should be performed according to standard marks (sāmānya-lakṣaṇa), ensuring ritual purity and legitimacy of worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct ritual order (ācāra) and consecration, it supports dharmic living and proper worship—seen in the Purāṇic framework as aiding spiritual merit (puṇya) that shapes one’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When establishing a home shrine or commissioning a temple image, follow recognized consecration/purification procedures under qualified guidance rather than treating the image or altar as merely decorative.