Shloka 7

Pūjā-Anukrama: Bīja-Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Homa, Vyūha-Nyāsa, and Dvārakā Cakra Rakṣā

Devanagari script

देवदेवं स्वबीजेन अङ्गादिभिरथाच्युतम् / पूर्वमुल्लिख्य चाभ्युक्ष्य प्रणवेन तु मन्त्रवित्

Transliteration

devadevaṃ svabījena aṅgādibhirathācyutam / pūrvamullikhya cābhyukṣya praṇavena tu mantravit

Translation

The knower of mantras should first inscribe the form of the God of gods—Acyuta—using his own seed-mantra, perform the aṅga-rites and the rest, and then sprinkle it while reciting the Praṇava (Oṁ).

Word by Word

• देवदेवम्: God of gods
• देवदेवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (देवानां देवः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वबीजेन: with one’s own seed-mantra
• स्वबीजेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य बीजम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अङ्गादिभिः: with the (nyāsa) limbs etc.
• अङ्गादिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (अङ्गानि आदयः येषु/अङ्गादयः), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/next)

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Vishnu)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (विष्णोः नाम)

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय/पूर्व-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रमवाचक अव्यय (first/before)

• उल्लिख्य: having drawn/inscribed
• उल्लिख्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + लिख् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अभ्युक्ष्य: having sprinkled (with water)
• अभ्युक्ष्य: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि + उक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यपन्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘अभिषिच्य/प्रोक्ष्य’

• प्रणवेन: with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• मन्त्रवित्: the knower of mantras
• मन्त्रवित्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु/प्रातिपदिक ‘वित्’)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रं वेत्ति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-informed devotion: invoking Acyuta through bīja, aṅga-nyāsa, and Oṁ as purifier and seal of worship.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa upāsanā as a support for meditation; Praṇava as symbol of Brahman/Īśvara and purifier of ritual intention.

Application: If initiated/authorized, perform mantra-nyāsa correctly: establish deity-form with bīja, complete aṅga-rites, then sprinkle while reciting Oṁ to consecrate.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (maṇḍala/vedi area)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.12.8–1.12.10: continuation into kuṇḍa, maṇḍala-nyāsa, and homa counts

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Praṇava (Oṁ)

FAQs

What is the importance of using the Praṇava (Oṁ) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse presents Oṁ as the sanctifying recitation used while sprinkling (abhiseka/prokṣaṇa), sealing the rite with purity and divine invocation.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or after-death practices?

It gives a foundational mantra-ritual method—invoking Viṣṇu (Acyuta) through bīja, aṅga-rites, and prokṣaṇa—which is commonly applied as preparatory purification in many Garuda Purana–style observances, including rites performed for protection and spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any serious prayer or rite, begin with a clear invocation of Viṣṇu, perform a simple purification (sprinkling water) and recite Oṁ with attention—prioritizing reverence, cleanliness, and disciplined intention.