Shloka 120

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

दक्षिणे तु यमायैव नैरृत्यां निरृतिं यजेत् / पश्चिमे वरुणायैव वायव्ये वायवे नमः

Transliteration

dakṣiṇe tu yamāyaiva nairṛtyāṃ nirṛtiṃ yajet / paścime varuṇāyaiva vāyavye vāyave namaḥ

Translation

في جهة الجنوب تُقام العبادة ليَما (Yama)؛ وفي الجنوب الغربي تُؤدَّى العبادة لنيرِتِي (Nirṛti). وفي الغرب تُعبد ڤَرُونا (Varuṇa)؛ وفي الشمال الغربي تُرفع التحية لفايُو (Vāyu).

Word by Word

• दक्षिणे: in the south
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यमाय: to Yama
• यमाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• नैरृत्याम्: in the southwest quarter
• नैरृत्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• निरृतिम्: Nirṛti (goddess of dissolution)
• निरृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should worship’

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• वरुणाय: to Varuṇa
• वरुणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• वायव्ये: in the northwest
• वायव्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• वायवे: to Vāyu
• वायवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Pradhana/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भाववाचक; (अस्तु) अध्याहृतम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Acknowledging Yama and Nirṛti within worship affirms accountability and the need to pacify destructive forces; Varuṇa and Vāyu restore balance through cosmic regulation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma/karma operate as impersonal divine order; even fearsome functions are within Īśvara’s governance.

Application: In rites, do not omit ‘difficult’ quarters—include pacification and accountability; in life, face consequences (Yama) and mitigate disorder (Nirṛti) through disciplined conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: directional quarters around the ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.121 (Kubera, Śiva, Brahmā)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Nirṛti
• Varuṇa
• Vāyu

FAQs

What is the importance of directional deities in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse maps specific deities to specific directions, indicating that correct orientation and invocation (dikpala-style) is part of orderly ritual practice in Preta-related rites.

How does this verse relate to Yama and the after-death journey?

By assigning the southern direction to Yama—lord of death and judgment—the verse ritually acknowledges Yama’s domain, aligning the rite with the cosmic governance associated with the preta’s post-death passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related prayers, keep a disciplined, respectful procedure—offer salutations with awareness of direction and deity, emphasizing sincerity and dharma rather than mere formality.