Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा मध्ये तथा विष्णुः शङ्करः शङ्करो ऽव्ययः / प्राच्यादिषु च तत्कण्ठे लोकपालान्क्रमेण तु

Transliteration

brahmā madhye tathā viṣṇuḥ śaṅkaraḥ śaṅkaro 'vyayaḥ / prācyādiṣu ca tatkaṇṭhe lokapālānkrameṇa tu

Translation

In der Mitte ist Brahmā; ebenso ist Viṣṇu; und Śaṅkara—Śaṅkara, der Unvergängliche. Und auf der Ostseite und in den übrigen Richtungen werden am Hals des Gefäßes die Lokapālas der Reihe nach angebracht.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचनम्

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• अव्ययः: imperishable
• अव्ययः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (शङ्करस्य)

• प्राच्यादिषु: in the eastern etc. directions
• प्राच्यादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राच्य + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्राच्यादयः दिशः); स्त्रीलिङ्गे सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्ययम्

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनस्य समासपूर्वरूपम् (तस्य)

• कण्ठे: at the neck
• कण्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचनम्

• लोकपालान्: the guardians of the worlds
• लोकपालान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोकपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (लोकस्य पालः); पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचनम्

• क्रमेण: in order, successively
• क्रमेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचनम्; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘क्रमेण’ = ‘क्रमशः’

• तु: indeed, then
• तु: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Ekoddishta

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During the prescribed śrāddha-associated mahādāna sequence; before gifting, icon placement is completed.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct placement (krama) and remembrance of deities; the cosmos is ritually mirrored to stabilize merit and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the ordered whole (samaṣṭi) reflected in symbolic forms; disciplined attention (ekāgratā) purifies the mind.

Application: When performing rites, follow accurate procedure and cultivate mindful visualization; structure and attention reduce error and deepen devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmographic layout

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.27.57 (construction of the pot); Garuda Purana 2.27.59 (worship with offerings)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Lokapalas (directional guardians)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Lokapālas mentioned in this verse of the Garuda Purana?

The verse highlights the ordered placement of the directional guardians (Lokapālas), indicating that cosmic space is governed and structured, not random—an important backdrop for Garuda Purana’s descriptions of worlds and post-death pathways.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teachings on the soul’s journey after death?

By establishing a mapped, deity-governed cosmology (with Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śaṅkara and the Lokapālas), the text frames the after-death journey as occurring within an organized cosmic order overseen by divine authorities.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It encourages a sense of accountability and reverence: one’s actions occur within a moral-cosmic order, supporting disciplined living (dharma) and mindful observance of rites that acknowledge divine guardianship.