Shloka 3

Upāsanā-krama: Maṇḍala-rakṣā, Dvāra-devatā-sthāpana, Lotus-Cosmology, and Aniruddha-Nārāyaṇa Pūjā

Devanagari script

द्वारश्रियं च दण्डं च प्रचण्डं वास्तुपूरुषम् / मध्ये चाधारशक्तिं च कूर्मं चानन्तमर्चयेत्

Transliteration

dvāraśriyaṃ ca daṇḍaṃ ca pracaṇḍaṃ vāstupūruṣam / madhye cādhāraśaktiṃ ca kūrmaṃ cānantamarcayet

Translation

Man soll Dvāraśrī (die glückverheißende Kraft der Türschwelle), Daṇḍa, den furchtbaren Pracaṇḍa und den Vāstupuruṣa verehren; und in der Mitte Ādhāraśakti, ebenso Kūrma und Ananta.

Word by Word

• द्वारश्रियम्: the Door-goddess (Dvāraśrī)
• द्वारश्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्वारस्य श्रीः); कर्म

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

• दण्डम्: Daṇḍa (personified staff/guardian)
• दण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• प्रचण्डम्: Pracaṇḍa (fierce one, guardian)
• प्रचण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रचण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• वास्तुपूरुषम्: Vāstupuruṣa (spirit of the site)
• वास्तुपूरुषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + पूरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वास्तोः पूरुषः); कर्म

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण

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

• आधारशक्तिम्: Ādhāra-śakti (supporting power)
• आधारशक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (आधारस्य शक्तिः); कर्म

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

• कूर्मम्: Kūrma (tortoise)
• कूर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• अनन्तम्: Ananta (Śeṣa)
• अनन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; विधि (injunction)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship includes both auspicious threshold forces and protective/fierce guardians, then centers on the foundational supports of the cosmos (Shakti, Kurma, Ananta).

Vedantic Theme: Microcosm-macrocosm correspondence: the worship-space mirrors cosmic support (adhara) and infinity (ananta), aiding contemplative stability.

Application: In puja, consciously ‘center’ the mind: after protective preliminaries, meditate on the ground of being (supporting power) and the Lord’s infinite sustaining presence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (mandala/altar layout)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.126: continuation of mandala symbolism culminating in lotus-base imagery (next verse)

Characters & Entities

• Dvāraśrī
• Daṇḍa
• Pracaṇḍa
• Vāstupuruṣa
• Ādhāraśakti
• Kūrma
• Ananta (Śeṣa)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Dvāraśrī and Vāstupuruṣa in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse frames the doorway and the building-site (vāstu) as sacred zones with presiding powers; worship is prescribed to secure auspiciousness, order, and protection for the dwelling and its inhabitants.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to Ācāra-oriented instruction, emphasizing ritual order and protective consecration within embodied, household life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat thresholds and living spaces as places of mindful discipline and sanctity—begin important acts by invoking protection, maintaining cleanliness, and dedicating the home’s “center” to steadiness and support (ādhāra).