Shloka 17

Navavyūha-pūjāvidhi: Bhūta-śuddhi, Nyāsa, Yogapīṭha, Maṇḍala-racanā, Mudrā-prayoga

Devanagari script

ततो विद्यात्सरोजातं दलाष्टसमदिग्दलम् / सिताब्जं शतपत्राढ्यं विप्रकीर्णोर्धकर्णिकम्

Transliteration

tato vidyātsarojātaṃ dalāṣṭasamadigdalam / sitābjaṃ śatapatrāḍhyaṃ viprakīrṇordhakarṇikam

Translation

Then one should visualize a lotus arisen: eight petals aligned with the eight directions—pure white, abundant as though with a hundred petals, its central pericarp raised and spread out above.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• vidyāt: should know/visualize
• vidyāt: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘one should know/visualize’

• saro-jātam: lake-born (lotus)
• saro-jātam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saras (प्रातिपदिक) + jāta (कृदन्त, √jan)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सरसि जातम्’ = born in a lake (lotus)

• dala-aṣṭa-sama-dik-dalam: having eight petals evenly oriented in all directions
• dala-aṣṭa-sama-dik-dalam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dala (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक) + dik (प्रातिपदिक) + dala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘दल-अष्ट’ (eight petals) + ‘सम-दिक्’ (equal directions) qualifying ‘दलम्’; overall: having petals in eight equal directions

• sita-abjam: white lotus
• sita-abjam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + abja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सितं अब्जम्’ = white lotus

• śata-patra-āḍhyam: abounding in a hundred petals
• śata-patra-āḍhyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + patra (प्रातिपदिक) + āḍhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘शतपत्रैः आढ्यम्’ = rich with a hundred petals

• viprakīrṇa-ūrdhakarṇikam: with an elevated pericarp, spread out
• viprakīrṇa-ūrdhakarṇikam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viprakīrṇa (कृदन्त, vi+√kṛ ‘to scatter’) + ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + karṇikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘ऊर्ध्व-कर्‍णिकाम्’ (raised pericarp) + ‘विप्रकीर्ण’ (spread/scattered) as qualifier; overall describing lotus

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Constructing a precise inner yantra: an eight-direction lotus with an elevated, expanded pericarp—preparing the mind for higher placements and realization.

Vedantic Theme: Ekāgratā (one-pointedness) through sacred form; using symbol (padma) to stabilize awareness and reveal the inner locus of the divine.

Application: During meditation, visualize a white lotus with directional petals; keep attention steady on the raised central karnikā as the focal point.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner mandala/lotus (padma) visualization

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11.18 (sun-moon-fire mandalas above); Garuda Purana 1.11.19 (placing Keśava’s śaktis on petals and center)

FAQs

What is the importance of the eight-petaled lotus in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes an eight-direction (aṣṭa-dik) aligned lotus as a ritual-meditative support, symbolizing ordered space and purity for dhyāna or worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it establishes a disciplined visualization (a pure inner ‘seat’) that supports right practice and mental clarity, which the Garuda Purana treats as foundational for dharma and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the imagery as a brief centering practice before prayer: imagine a clean white lotus with petals oriented to the eight directions to steady attention and cultivate sattva.