Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

मुष्टिद्वयमथो बद्धा एवमेवानुपूर्वशः / दशानां लोकपालानां मुद्राश्च क्रमयोगतः

Transliteration

muṣṭidvayamatho baddhā evamevānupūrvaśaḥ / daśānāṃ lokapālānāṃ mudrāśca kramayogataḥ

Translation

Then, with both fists clenched and bound in the prescribed manner, thus in due sequence, the mudrās of the ten Lokapālas are to be performed in their proper order.

Word by Word

• मुष्टि-द्वयम्: both fists
• मुष्टि-द्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; प्रसङ्गतः कर्मरूपेण (बद्धा इत्यनेन सह)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक निपात

• बद्धाः: (are) bound/closed
• बद्धाः: Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘bound/closed’ (मुद्राः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम्

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• अनुपूर्वशः: in sequence
• अनुपूर्वशः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्वशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम्

• दशानाम्: of the ten
• दशानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; संख्याशब्दः

• लोक-पालानाम्: of the guardians of the worlds
• लोक-पालानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य पालाः)

• मुद्राः: mudrās
• मुद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• क्रम-योगतः: according to the ordered arrangement
• क्रम-योगतः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; अर्थः ‘क्रमेण/क्रमयोगेन’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual order mirrors cosmic order: invoking lokapālas in sequence affirms ṛta/dharma as protective structure around action.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha orientation: harmonizing individual practice with cosmic governance; disciplined karma as purifier.

Application: Perform lokapāla mudrās in the prescribed krama, ideally facing directions as instructed in the broader rite; treat it as boundary-setting before mantra/nyāsa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual mandala (dikpāla/lokapāla orientation)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11 (lokapāla-mudrā sequence likely detailed in following verses)

Characters & Entities

• Lokapālas

FAQs

What is the importance of Lokapāla mudrās in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that the Lokapāla mudrās are not random gestures but a prescribed ritual sequence, indicating disciplined, rule-based worship and protective invocation of the world-guardians.

How does this verse explain the correct method of performing mudrās?

It states that the practitioner should form the gesture with both fists properly ‘bound’ and then perform the mudrās of the ten Lokapālas step-by-step in the correct order (anupūrvaśaḥ, krama-yogataḥ).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow ritual instructions precisely—whether in prayer, japa, or temple practice—valuing order, attentiveness, and correctness rather than improvisation in sacred procedures.