Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

वं च त्वीशे सदा पूज्य ॐ हृदिस्थञ्च पूजयेत् / तन्मात्रान्भूतमात्रांस्तान्बहिरेव प्रपूजयेत्

Transliteration

vaṃ ca tvīśe sadā pūjya oṃ hṛdisthañca pūjayet / tanmātrānbhūtamātrāṃstānbahireva prapūjayet

Translation

Man verehre stets die Silbe „vaṁ“ im Herrn und verehre auch das im Herzen weilende „oṃ“. Die feinen Essenzen (tanmātras) und die Elementprinzipien (bhūtas) sollen ebenso äußerlich, in der rechten Ordnung, verehrt werden.

Word by Word

• vam: ‘vaṃ’ (the syllable)
• vam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; कर्म (the syllable ‘vaṃ’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• īśe: in Īśa (the lordly station)
• īśe: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण (in/at Īśa)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: always)

• pūjya: to be worshipped
• pūjya: Predicate (Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/य-प्रत्यय (gerundive) ‘पूज्य’ = ‘to be worshipped’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (elliptic: [it is] to be worshipped)

• oṃ: Oṃ
• oṃ: Karma (Mantra-object)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṃ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रणव-नाद (sacred syllable)

• hṛdi-stham: situated in the heart
• hṛdi-stham: Karma (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (हृदि-स्थ = ‘situated in the heart’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of oṃ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (should worship)

• tan-mātrān: the tanmātras (subtle elements)
• tan-mātrān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + mātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तन्-मात्रा = ‘those subtle elements’); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोग (here as object plural), द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म

• bhūta-mātrān: the bhūta-essences (gross elements)
• bhūta-mātrān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta + mātrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भूत-मात्रा = ‘elemental measures/essences’); द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्म

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; कर्म (those)

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahis (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb: outside)

• eva: indeed; only
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle: only/indeed)

• prapūjayet: should worship thoroughly
• prapūjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; (should worship fully)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Praṇava-centered interiority with comprehensive recognition of subtle (tanmātra) and gross (bhūta) layers; liberation-oriented integration of levels of experience.

Vedantic Theme: Praṇava (oṃ) as a unifying symbol of Brahman/Īśvara; moving from nāda (sound) to tattva awareness supports inward absorption and disidentification from mere externals.

Application: Japa/mental worship of oṃ in the heart with steady attention; then consciously acknowledge sensory essences and elements as appearances within awareness, reducing reactivity and increasing equanimity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: subtle body locus and surrounding mandala perimeter

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.197.36–39 (nyāsa, deity installation, bhūta-direction mapping, bīja-element correspondences)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Om
• Tanmātras
• Bhūtas

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Om in the heart in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches inner worship (hṛdistha oṃ) as a core practice—recognizing the Divine presence within—alongside external ritual worship.

How does this verse relate to the subtle body (tanmātras) and the elements (bhūtas)?

It links mantra-centered devotion with the cosmic constitution of the person: the tanmātras and bhūtas are to be honored as principles that structure embodied existence and ritual space.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Combine inward remembrance (silent Om-japa/heart-centered meditation) with outward discipline (puja, cleanliness, offerings), treating the senses and elements with reverence and restraint.