Shloka 2

Mantra-Nyāsa and Elemental Maṇḍalas: Nāga Invocation and Garuḍa–Bhairava Dhyāna for Protection

Devanagari script

पृथिव्यापस्तथा तेजो वायुराकाशमेवच / क्षित्यादिष्वेव वर्गाश्च ह्येते वै मण्डलाधिपाः

Transliteration

pṛthivyāpastathā tejo vāyurākāśamevaca / kṣityādiṣveva vargāśca hyete vai maṇḍalādhipāḥ

Translation

Erde, Wasser, Feuer, Wind und auch der Raum: Diese Gruppen, beginnend mit der Erde, sind wahrlich die herrschenden Lenker ihrer jeweiligen Maṇḍalas.

Word by Word

• पृथिवी: earth
• पृथिवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आपः: waters
• आपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (बहुवचन-प्रातिपदिक), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunctive)

• तेजः: fire/energy
• तेजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आकाशम्: ether/space
• आकाशम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (समुच्चय)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

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

• क्षिति-आदिषु: in earth and the rest (elements)
• क्षिति-आदिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (आदि-समास: क्षितिः आदिः येषां तेषु = in earth etc.)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• वर्गाः: classes/groups
• वर्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

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

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphasis)

• मण्डल-अधिपाः: lords of the spheres/circles
• मण्डल-अधिपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मण्डलस्य अधिपाः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pañca-mahābhūta structure and their adhipatis as organizing principles of reality

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāropa-apavāda style: using elemental categories to orient the mind toward the underlying order; prakṛti-tattva mapping as preparatory knowledge

Application: Use the five-element framework for meditation, nyāsa, and ethical grounding (balance of earth/water/fire/wind/space in conduct and practice).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic spheres (maṇḍalas)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana cosmological enumerations of bhūtas and lokas in other adhyāyas (general internal parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Earth (Prithivi)
• Waters (Apah)
• Fire (Tejas)
• Wind (Vayu)
• Space (Akasha)

FAQs

What is the importance of the five elements (pañca-mahābhūtas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the five elements as organized domains with presiding powers, supporting the Purana’s cosmology and its view that embodied existence is structured through elemental spheres.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

By identifying elemental ‘maṇḍalas’ and their rulers, the verse supplies a cosmological map often used in Garuda Purana narratives about how beings move through subtle and cosmic regions after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate elemental balance—cleanliness (water), steadiness (earth), discipline (fire), regulated breath (air), and spacious awareness (ether)—as a dharmic way to harmonize body and mind.