Shloka 32

Devanagari script

सव्यहस्तं तथोत्तानं कृत्वोर्धं भ्रामयेच्छनैः / नवमीयं स्मृता मुद्रा वराहाभिमता सदा

Transliteration

savyahastaṃ tathottānaṃ kṛtvordhaṃ bhrāmayecchanaiḥ / navamīyaṃ smṛtā mudrā varāhābhimatā sadā

Translation

Keeping the left hand open and upturned, one should slowly rotate it upward. This is known as the ninth mudrā, ever favored by (Lord) Varāha.

Word by Word

• सव्य-हस्तम्: the left hand
• सव्य-हस्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सव्य + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सव्यः हस्तः)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम्

• उत्तानम्: with palm up / extended upward
• उत्तानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (हस्तम् इत्यस्य)

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातुः—कृ (करणे)

• ऊर्धम्: upwards
• ऊर्धम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोगः (दिशावाचक)

• भ्रामयेत्: should rotate/turn
• भ्रामयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रामय् (णिजन्त) < भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातुः—भ्रम् (भ्रमणे) णिजन्त ‘भ्रामयति’

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम्

• नवमी-इयम्: this (is) the ninth
• नवमी-इयम्: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवमी (प्रातिपदिक) + इदम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘नवमी’ संख्यावाची विशेषण-शब्दः, ‘इयम्’ सर्वनाम; समानााधिकरण-प्रयोगः

• स्मृता: is called/remembered
• स्मृता: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; धातुः—स्मृ (स्मरणे); ‘स्मृता’ = ‘is remembered/called’

• मुद्रा: mudrā
• मुद्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वराह-अभिमता: approved by Varāha
• वराह-अभिमता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वराह + अभिमत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वराहस्य अभिमता)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gesture as symbolic theology: the hand’s upward movement embodies the Lord’s act of uplift (uddhāra) and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Grace (anugraha) as the uplifting power that steadies the world and the mind; saguṇa-bhakti as support for inner ascent.

Application: Perform slowly (śanaiḥ) to maintain awareness; pair with Varāha-smaraṇa (visualize Earth being raised) to deepen concentration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/inner-space (hand-nyāsa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11 (mudrā enumeration: ninth mudrā)

Characters & Entities

• Varaha

FAQs

What is the importance of this mudrā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines a specific hand-gesture (the ninth mudrā) as part of ritual procedure, indicating that correct bodily gestures are integral to prescribed worship and observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to the conduct/ritual section, emphasizing disciplined ritual technique that supports dharma and devotional practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional pūjā or mantra-japa with mudrās, follow the gesture precisely—open the left palm, keep it upturned, and rotate it upward slowly—treating ritual actions as mindful, deliberate practice.