Shloka 140

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

अन्यैश्च तान्त्रिकैर्मन्त्रैः पूजयेच्च जनार्दनम् / आदावर्घ्यं प्रदातव्यं ततः पश्चाद्विलेपनम्

Transliteration

anyaiśca tāntrikairmantraiḥ pūjayecca janārdanam / ādāvarghyaṃ pradātavyaṃ tataḥ paścādvilepanam

Translation

Und auch mit anderen tantrischen Mantras soll man Janārdana (Herrn Viṣṇu) verehren. Zuerst ist das Arghya, die rituelle Wassergabe, darzubringen; danach folgt die Salbung, das Einreiben.

Word by Word

• अन्यैः: with other
• अन्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

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

• तान्त्रिकैः: tantric
• तान्त्रिकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तान्त्रिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• मन्त्रैः: with mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — ‘should worship’

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

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Vishnu)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदौ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘at first’)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya-offering
• अर्घ्यम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• प्रदातव्यम्: should be offered
• प्रदातव्यम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Gerundive/obligatory: ‘is to be given’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequencer/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Sambandha (Sequencer/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक (afterwards)

• विलेपनम्: anointing/smearing (with unguent)
• विलेपनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-लिप् (धातु) + अन (कृत्-प्रत्यय) / विलेपन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, ritual-vidhi context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Arcana-krama (sequence) matters: worship Janārdana with mantras (including tāntrika), beginning with arghya and proceeding to vilepana (anointing).

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā as a disciplined doorway to inner steadiness (citta-śuddhi).

Application: In pūjā, keep a consistent order of offerings; if using tantric mantras, do so within a respectful, well-learned procedure rather than improvisation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temple/household shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.141 (subsequent upacāras)

Characters & Entities

• Janardana (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering arghya in Garuda Purana worship instructions?

This verse places arghya first, indicating respectful reception and purification as the opening act before other upacāras (services) in Janārdana’s worship.

Does this verse describe a fixed order of puja steps?

Yes. It explicitly states the sequence: begin with arghya (water-offering) and then proceed to vilepana (anointing), implying an ordered ritual method.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing Viṣṇu-pūjā, keep a clear sequence of offerings—start with a respectful water-offering (arghya) and then apply sandal paste or a fragrant unguent as the next step.