Shloka 40

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

तन्मध्ये भववृक्षं च आत्मानं च विचिन्तयेत् / अधोमुखीं ततः पृथ्वीं तत्तच्छुध्दं भवेद्ध्रुवम्

Transliteration

tanmadhye bhavavṛkṣaṃ ca ātmānaṃ ca vicintayet / adhomukhīṃ tataḥ pṛthvīṃ tattacchudhdaṃ bhaveddhruvam

Translation

সেই (অন্তৰ্মণ্ডল)ৰ মাজত ভববৃক্ষ আৰু নিজৰ আত্মাক ধ্যান কৰিব। তাৰ পিছত পৃথিৱীক অধোমুখ (তলমুখী) ৰূপে দর্শন কৰিলে, সেই ধ্যান নিশ্চিতভাৱে শুদ্ধ হয়।

Word by Word

• तन्मध्ये: in the midst of that
• तन्मध्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्य मध्ये)

• भववृक्षम्: the tree of worldly existence
• भववृक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भवस्य वृक्षः)

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

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

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

• विचिन्तयेत्: one should contemplate
• विचिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि-

• अधोमुखीम्: downward-facing
• अधोमुखीम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधोमुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अधः मुखं यस्याः) विशेषणम्

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb; sequence/ablatival sense)

• पृथ्वीम्: earth
• पृथ्वीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तत्तत्: each respective (that-that)
• तत्तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्त-विशेषण (each/that respective)

• शुद्धम्: purified
• शुद्धम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• भवेत्: may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ध्रुवम्: certainly/indeed
• ध्रुवम्: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत् नपुंसक-एकवचन-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative: certainly)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viveka and ātma-vicāra amid saṃsāra: contemplate the bhava-vṛkṣa and the Self; through reversal/withdrawal, the bhū-tattva contemplation becomes purified and steady.

Vedantic Theme: Ātma-anātma-viveka; saṃsāra as upādhi-tree; purification leading toward śānti and liberation-competence.

Application: Daily reflect on the ‘tree’ of habits/attachments, then shift attention to the witnessing Self; cultivate deliberate detachment from earth-bound identifications.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: meditative inner space; symbolic cosmography (earth turned downward)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.36 (nivṛtti); Garuda Purana 1.23.39 (bhū-tantra framework)

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'bhavavṛkṣa' in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses the 'tree of becoming' as a meditation-symbol for saṃsāra: by contemplating it along with the Ātman, one gains detachment and inner purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It points to the soul’s liberation-oriented path through discernment: recognizing worldly becoming (bhava) and turning inward to the Self leads to purification, which supports spiritual progress beyond embodied existence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice daily reflection: observe how desires and actions create 'branches' of saṃsāra, then return attention to the Ātman through steady meditation—supporting ethical restraint and mental clarity.