Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

चिन्तयेत्तत्र सर्वेशं परं तत्त्वमनामयम् / क्रमाच्चैतानि बीजानि तर्जन्यादिषु विन्य सेत्

Transliteration

cintayettatra sarveśaṃ paraṃ tattvamanāmayam / kramāccaitāni bījāni tarjanyādiṣu vinya set

Translation

There one should meditate upon the Lord of all—the supreme Reality, unchanging and free from every affliction. Then, in due order, one should place these seed-syllables upon the fingers, beginning with the index finger.

Word by Word

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (there)

• सर्वेशम्: the Lord of all
• सर्वेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सर्वेषां ईशः)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तत्त्वम्)

• तत्त्वम्: principle/reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनामयम्: free from disease/blemish
• अनामयम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्-आमय (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + आमय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (तत्त्वम्)

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Adhikarana (Manner/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति-प्रयोगेण अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण (in order/ क्रमशः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एतानि: these
• एतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• बीजानि: seed(-mantras)
• बीजानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तर्जन्यादिषु: on the index-finger and the others
• तर्जन्यादिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जनी-आदि (प्रातिपदिक; तर्जनी + आदि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (तर्जनी-आदिषु = index-finger etc.)

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, typical dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditate on Sarveśa as the supreme, changeless, affliction-free Reality; ritual placement follows contemplation, uniting jñāna and upāsanā.

Vedantic Theme: Nirvikāra/akṣara tattva; īśvara as paramārtha-satya approached through dhyāna supported by mantra (jñāna-bhakti synthesis).

Application: Begin with clear dhyāna on the Supreme beyond suffering; then place bījas sequentially on fingers starting with the index finger, keeping the meditation unbroken.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner meditative space; fingers as micro-maṇḍala for bīja placement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11.5-1.11.8 (nyāsa procedure leading to dhyāna culmination)

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa (placing mantras on the body) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames nyāsa as a disciplined ritual step: after meditating on the supreme Lord, the practitioner “places” bīja-syllables on the fingers to sanctify action and align the body-mind with the mantra.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes inner purification through meditation on the supreme, affliction-free Reality; such upāsanā is presented as a means to steady the mind and support dharmic, spiritually elevating practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any serious prayer or japa with a moment of focused meditation on the divine, then follow a consistent, orderly practice (like simple finger-counting/nyāsa) to maintain attention and reverence.