Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

सप्त स्वर्गा उरसि च ब्रह्माण्डं कण्ठमाश्रितम् / पूर्वादीशानपर्यन्तं शिरस्तस्य विचिन्तयेत्

Transliteration

sapta svargā urasi ca brahmāṇḍaṃ kaṇṭhamāśritam / pūrvādīśānaparyantaṃ śirastasya vicintayet

Translation

Man soll die sieben Himmel in seiner Brust verweilend schauen und das Weltenei (brahmāṇḍa) an seiner Kehle ruhend; und meditieren, dass sein Haupt sich vom Osten bis Īśāna (Nordosten) erstreckt.

Word by Word

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; स्वर्गाः-विशेषणम्; here nominative plural sense

• स्वर्गाः: heavens
• स्वर्गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; nominative plural masculine

• उरसि: on the chest
• उरसि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; locative singular neuter

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थकः (conjunction)

• ब्रह्माण्डम्: the cosmic egg (universe)
• ब्रह्माण्डम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + अण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; here nominative singular neuter as subject; समासः: ब्रह्मणः अण्डम्

• कण्ठम्: the throat
• कण्ठम्: Karma (Complement/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; accusative singular masculine (goal/complement with āśrita)

• आश्रितम्: has taken refuge in/has occupied
• आश्रितम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle) नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; predicative with ब्रह्माण्डम्

• पूर्वादि-ईशान-पर्यन्तम्: from the East up to Īśāna (NE)
• पूर्वादि-ईशान-पर्यन्तम्: Karma (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + आदि + ईशान + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; (कर्मणि विशेषणम्) accusative singular neuter; meaning 'up to Īśāna starting from the East'

• शिरः: the head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; accusative singular neuter

• तस्य: of him/its
• तस्य: Sambandha (Relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; genitive singular pronoun

• विचिन्तयेत्: should contemplate/visualize
• विचिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; parasmaipada; 3rd person singular optative

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Virāṭ-style contemplation: mapping cosmic regions onto the deity’s body to internalize the universe as a single ordered whole.

Vedantic Theme: Unity-in-diversity: the many lokas and directions are appearances within one consciousness/presence; supports ekāgratā leading toward insight.

Application: Guided visualization: place svargas in the chest (expansive breath), brahmāṇḍa at the throat (vāk/udgītha center), then extend awareness across directions (east to īśāna) to stabilize spatial mindfulness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic body-mandala / directional span

Cross References

Related Themes: Continuation of Garuḍa cosmic-body visualization in 1.197; earlier/later verses likely assign other lokas/limbs

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanda
• Sapta Svargas
• Ishana (NE direction)

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on the cosmic form (Viśvarūpa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches a structured visualization: mapping heavens, the universe (brahmāṇḍa), and directions onto the divine body, making meditation concrete and integrative of cosmology and devotion.

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

By locating worlds and directions within the Cosmic Being, it frames the many realms encountered after death as contained within divine order—encouraging remembrance of the Supreme amid discussions of lokas, karma, and post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a brief daily visualization: contemplate higher aspirations (svargas) in the heart-space, the vastness of creation (brahmāṇḍa) held at the throat (speech/awareness), and orient your mind toward clarity and auspicious directionality (Īśāna).