Shloka 31

Devanagari script

पवनास्त्रं वास्त्वधिपो द्वारि पूर्वादितस्त्विमे / इन्द्राद्याः पूजनीयाश्च तत्त्वानि पृथिवी जलम्

Transliteration

pavanāstraṃ vāstvadhipo dvāri pūrvāditastvime / indrādyāḥ pūjanīyāśca tattvāni pṛthivī jalam

Translation

An der Schwelle—beginnend von der Ostseite—sind Pavanāstra, die „Waffe des Windes“, und Vāstvadhipa, der Herr der Wohnstätte, anzurufen. Ebenso sind Indra und die übrigen Gottheiten zu verehren; und auch die elementaren Prinzipien wie Erde und Wasser sind zu ehren.

Word by Word

• पवनास्त्रम्: the wind-weapon (pavana-astra)
• पवनास्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पवन + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पवनस्य अस्त्रम्)

• वास्त्वधिपः: the presiding lord of the site (Vāstu-adhipa)
• वास्त्वधिपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तु + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वास्तुनः अधिपः)

• द्वारि: at the door
• द्वारि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• पूर्वादितः: beginning from the east
• पूर्वादितः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभाव-समासः; अव्यय (दिशा-आधारित क्रियाविशेषणम्)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (contrast/emphasis particle)

• इमे: these
• इमे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• इन्द्राद्याः: Indra and the others
• इन्द्राद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; बहुवचन-समूहवाचकः; तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रः आदिः येषाम्)

• पूजनीयाः: worthy of worship
• पूजनीयाः: Karta (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजनीय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; कृदन्तः (तव्यत्/अनीयर्-भावः: ‘to be worshipped’)

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

• तत्त्वानि: principles/elements
• तत्त्वानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), बहुवचन

• पृथिवी: earth
• पृथिवी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual honoring of directional powers, vāstu-deity, and the mahābhūtas as supports of embodied and worldly order.

Vedantic Theme: Interdependence of microcosm (house/body) and macrocosm (deities/elements) as an aid to sattva and right conduct.

Application: In consecrations/household pūjā, begin at the east-facing threshold; offer respectful worship to dikpālas, vāstudevatā, and elements to establish protection and harmony.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: threshold/doorway (vāstu)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta-kalpa/ācāra sections): dikpāla-pūjā and bhūta-śānti motifs recur in ritual preliminaries; Garuda Purana: pañcabhūta and indriya enumerations in cosmology/adhyātma passages

Characters & Entities

• Vāstvadhipa (Vāstu-deity)
• Pavanāstra
• Indra
• Pṛthivī (Earth element)
• Jala (Water element)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Vāstvadhipa and Pavanāstra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames doorway worship as a protective and harmonizing rite: invoking Vāstvadhipa (the presiding spirit of the dwelling) and Pavanāstra (a wind-based protective invocation) aligns the home with auspicious forces and removes obstacles at the threshold.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it belongs to the conduct/ritual section, emphasizing correct worship of deities and elements as part of dharmic living that supports spiritual well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a clean, respected threshold and begin prayers facing or starting from the east; honor the forces of nature (air, earth, water) and household guardianship as a reminder to live responsibly within one’s home and environment.