Shloka 1

Gāyatrī-nyāsa, Pāda-bheda, and Purificatory Power in Sādhana

Devanagari script

चतुस्त्रिंशो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / न्यासादिकं प्रवक्ष्यामि गायत्त्र्याः शृणु शङ्कर / विश्वामित्रऋषिश्चैव सविता चाथ देवता

Transliteration

catustriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / nyāsādikaṃ pravakṣyāmi gāyattryāḥ śṛṇu śaṅkara / viśvāmitraṛṣiścaiva savitā cātha devatā

Translation

Hari sprach: „Ich werde die vorbereitenden Riten wie Nyāsa für die Gāyatrī darlegen; höre, o Śaṅkara. Der ṛṣi ist Viśvāmitra, und die Gottheit ist Savitṛ.“

Word by Word

• चतुस्त्रिंशः: thirty-second
• चतुस्त्रिंशः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुस्त्रिंश (प्रातिपदिक) = चतुः + त्रिंशत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (संख्यावाचक)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातुः वच् (वचने)

• न्यासादिकम्: nyāsa and related (rites)
• न्यासादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यासादिक (प्रातिपदिक) = न्यास + आदिक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (न्यासः आदिः यस्य)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; धातुः वच् (वचने) उपसर्गः प्र

• गायत्त्र्याः: of the Gāyatrī
• गायत्त्र्याः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; धातुः श्रु (श्रवणे)

• शङ्कर: O Śaṅkara
• शङ्कर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• विश्वामित्रऋषिः: the sage Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रऋषिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्रऋषि (प्रातिपदिक) = विश्वामित्र + ऋषि
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (विश्वामित्रः ऋषिः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• सविता: Savitṛ (the Sun)
• सविता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/प्रारम्भार्थक-निपात (then/now)

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Hari (Lord Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gāyatrī practice requires proper preliminaries (nyāsa etc.) and correct mantra-ṛṣi-devatā identification: Viśvāmitra as ṛṣi, Savitṛ as devatā.

Vedantic Theme: Mantra as a means of inner purification and illumination; disciplined upāsanā aligns the practitioner with cosmic intelligence (Savitṛ).

Application: Before japa, perform nyāsa and remember ṛṣi-chandas-devatā; maintain accuracy, cleanliness, and attentive intention in daily Gāyatrī practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.35 (Gāyatrī-nyāsa and ancillary rites section, implied continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Vishvamitra
• Savitr

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa for the Gāyatrī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse introduces nyāsa as a key preparatory practice for Gāyatrī, indicating that correct ritual placement/installation precedes effective mantra practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it frames mantra-ritual discipline (Gāyatrī with nyāsa) as a foundational spiritual practice within the Purāṇic teaching context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach mantra practice with proper preparation and clarity—know the mantra’s ṛṣi and devatā, and follow a disciplined routine rather than casual recitation.