Shloka 42

Jāmbavatī’s Vaiṣṇava-Ācāra: Grace, Sense-Consecration, and Pilgrimage to Śrīnivāsa on Veṅkaṭādri

Devanagari script

मुखं च दृष्ट्वा नमनं च कार्यं पृष्ठादिभागे नमनं न कार्यम् / सापि द्विषट्कं नमनं च चक्रे शालग्रामं स्थापयित्वा पुरो ऽस्य

Transliteration

mukhaṃ ca dṛṣṭvā namanaṃ ca kāryaṃ pṛṣṭhādibhāge namanaṃ na kāryam / sāpi dviṣaṭkaṃ namanaṃ ca cakre śālagrāmaṃ sthāpayitvā puro 'sya

Translation

بعد النظر إلى الوجه ينبغي أداء السجود التعظيمي؛ ولا ينبغي السجود إلى جهة الظهر أو الخلف. وهي أيضًا أدّت اثنتي عشرة سَجدة، بعد أن وضعت أولًا شالاغراما (الحجرَ الرمزَ لفيشنو) أمامه.

Word by Word

• मुखम्: the face
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): ‘having seen’

• नमनम्: bowing
• नमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (here: act of bowing)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Vidhi (विधेय/विधान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative): ‘to be done/should be done’

• पृष्ठ: back
• पृष्ठ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूप (compound member)

• आदि: etc.
• आदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (suffix-like: ‘etc., beginning with’) used in compound

• भागे: in the back-side region
• भागे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: पृष्ठादि + भाग (तत्पुरुष: ‘in the part like the back etc.’)

• नमनम्: bowing
• नमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Vidhi (विधेय/विधान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• द्विषट्कम्: twelve (times)
• द्विषट्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvi-ṣaṭka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः: द्वे षट्के (two sets of six = twelve)

• नमनम्: bowing
• नमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: namana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• चक्रे: did/performed
• चक्रे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• शालग्रामम्: Śālagrāma (sacred stone)
• शालग्रामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālagrāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: शाल + ग्राम (तत्पुरुष; sacred stone/place-name)

• स्थापयित्वा: having installed
• स्थापयित्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthāpay (धातु, णिच्)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) of causative: ‘having placed/installed’

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/preposition-like): ‘in front’

• अस्य: of him/this (one)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Preta Kanda dialogue)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ācāra (right conduct) is itself devotion; orientation matters—one bows facing the deity’s mukha, not the back; Śālagrāma anchors Viṣṇu-presence in ritual action.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā as a disciplined means to purify mind (citta-śuddhi), preparing for higher realization.

Application: In temples and home worship: face the deity, avoid casual or disrespectful gestures, and keep a clear focal icon (mūrti/śālagrāma) before beginning prostrations or prayers.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/sacred precinct

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Vaiṣṇava ācāra and worship norms); Garuda Purana (Śālagrāma-māhātmya style material in Purāṇic tradition)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shalagrama

FAQs

What is the importance of proper namaskara direction in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that salutations should be offered facing the revered person/deity (seeing the face), not from behind, emphasizing ritual propriety and respectful orientation.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

It frames correct devotional conduct—placing Śālagrāma in front and offering a prescribed number of prostrations—reflecting the Purana’s concern with precise rites and their spiritual efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When offering pranāma in worship or to elders/teachers, face them respectfully; in Vaiṣṇava practice, keep Śālagrāma placed properly and perform salutations with attention and reverence rather than casually or from behind.