Shloka 87

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

देवस्य पीठस्य च दक्षिणे च दुर्गां नमेदुग्ररूपाभिधां च / पीठस्य कन्ये प्रणमेत्पश्चिमे वै आरोग्याणा मधिपं कामदेवम्

Transliteration

devasya pīṭhasya ca dakṣiṇe ca durgāṃ namedugrarūpābhidhāṃ ca / pīṭhasya kanye praṇametpaścime vai ārogyāṇā madhipaṃ kāmadevam

Translation

An der Südseite des heiligen pīṭha des Herrn soll man sich vor Durgā verneigen, die Ugrarūpā genannt wird. An der Westseite dieses Sitzes soll man sich vor Kāmadeva verneigen, dem Herrn, der Gesundheit und Wohlergehen behütet.

Word by Word

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• पीठस्य: of the seat
• पीठस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• दक्षिणे: in the south
• दक्षिणे: अधिकरण (स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (दिक्शब्द), सप्तमीविभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• दुर्गाम्: Durgā
• दुर्गाम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• नमेत्: should bow (to)
• नमेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• उग्र-रूप-अभिधाम्: named 'fierce-formed'
• उग्र-रूप-अभिधाम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of दुर्गाम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; तत्पुरुष-समास (उग्रं रूपं यस्याः सा/उग्ररूपा; तस्याः अभिधा)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• पीठस्य: of the seat
• पीठस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति, एकवचन

• कन्ये: O maiden (O Goddess)
• कन्ये: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रणमेत्: should bow
• प्रणमेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: अधिकरण (स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (दिक्शब्द), सप्तमीविभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• आरोग्याणाम्: of healths/well-being
• आरोग्याणाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• अधिपम्: the lord
• अधिपम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• काम-देवम्: Kāmadeva
• काम-देवम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; कर्मधारय-समास (कामः देवः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upasana through dik-sevana: honoring deities in their appointed directions as limbs of the Lord’s sacred order.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara as the center; devatas as functional manifestations within a unified sacred cosmos (ekatva through vyavahara).

Application: In worship, mentally or physically circumambulate the altar/pitha and offer namaskara to the southern and western guardians before central worship, cultivating steadiness and auspiciousness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred seat/mandala orientation

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.88-91 (continuation of pitha-directional devata mapping)

Characters & Entities

• Durgā (Ugrarūpā)
• Kāmadeva
• Deva (the Lord)
• Pīṭha (sacred seat)

FAQs

What is the importance of directional worship around the pīṭha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that specific deities are honored in specific directions around the sacred seat, implying that ritual completeness and protection are gained by aligning worship with prescribed spatial order.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes of protection and well-being?

By prescribing obeisance to Durgā in her fierce protective aspect and to Kāmadeva as a presiding lord of health, the text links ritual devotion with safeguarding the practitioner’s welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During pūjā, one may mindfully offer salutations to protective and well-being-bestowing deities, keeping the worship orderly (by direction) and focusing on inner discipline and health-supporting conduct.