Shloka 44

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

सुवर्णद्वयमाहृत्य मूर्तिं भूप प्रकल्पयेत् / नारायणस्य देवस्य सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्

Transliteration

suvarṇadvayamāhṛtya mūrtiṃ bhūpa prakalpayet / nārāyaṇasya devasya sarvābharaṇabhūṣitām

Translation

Nachdem man zwei Maße Gold beschafft hat, o König, soll man ein Bildnis des göttlichen Herrn Nārāyaṇa anfertigen lassen, geschmückt mit jeglichem Schmuck.

Word by Word

• सुवर्णद्वयम्: two (units of) gold
• सुवर्णद्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); द्विगु-समासः (two pieces/units of gold)

• आहृत्य: having brought
• आहृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया (having brought)

• मूर्तिम्: an image, idol
• मूर्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भूप: O king
• भूप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रकल्पयेत्: should prepare/construct
• प्रकल्पयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कल्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• नारायणस्य: of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular); ‘नारायणस्य’ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन/विशेष्य

• सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + आभरण + भूषित (प्रातिपदिक; भूष् धातु + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणं ‘मूर्तिम्’ प्रति

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda; instruction addressed as 'O king' within the narrative)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Arcāvatāra-sevā: crafting and adorning a Nārāyaṇa mūrti as a concrete support for devotion and purification.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā as an accessible doorway to inner steadiness; the form (mūrti) supports contemplation of the formless reality.

Application: Commission or maintain a sacred image with reverence and ethical means; treat worship implements as extensions of discipline and purity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pūjā-vidhi passages prescribing mūrti, ornaments, and consecration steps; Garuda Purana: sections where dāna of gold and images yields merit and protection

Characters & Entities

• Narayana

FAQs

What is the importance of commissioning a Nārāyaṇa image in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes making a properly adorned image of Lord Nārāyaṇa as a meritorious religious act, supporting dharma and auspiciousness within ritual contexts.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on post-death rites?

In the Preta Kanda’s ritual framework, acts of devotion and sanctioned giving are presented as spiritually beneficial supports connected to rites performed for welfare and upliftment.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice sincere devotion and ethical giving: support Vishnu worship (temple service, icon care, or donations) with reverence, and prioritize lawful, compassionate charity over display.