Shloka 13

Tithi-Vrata Vidhāna: Śikhī-vrata (Pratipadā), Tṛtīyā Devī/Śrīdhara rites, Gaṇeśa Caturthī Mantra-Nyāsa, and Nāga Pañcamī

Devanagari script

ग्लैं ग्लांहृदये गां गीं हूं ह्रीं ह्रीं शिरः शिखा / गूं वर्म गों च गैं नेत्रं गों च आवाहनादिषु

Transliteration

glaiṃ glāṃhṛdaye gāṃ gīṃ hūṃ hrīṃ hrīṃ śiraḥ śikhā / gūṃ varma goṃ ca gaiṃ netraṃ goṃ ca āvāhanādiṣu

Translation

Assign the seed-syllables: ‘glaiṃ, glāṃ’ in the heart; ‘gāṃ, gīṃ, hūṃ, hrīṃ, hrīṃ’ upon the head and the topknot; ‘gūṃ’ as the protective armour (varma); ‘goṃ’ and ‘gaiṃ’ in the eyes; and ‘goṃ’ in acts such as invocation (āvāhana) and the rest.

Word by Word

• ग्लैं: seed syllable “glaiṃ”
• ग्लैं: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्लैं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र (mantric seed syllable), अव्यय (indeclinable)

• ग्लाम्: seed syllable “glāṃ”
• ग्लाम्: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्लाम् (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• गाम्: seed syllable “gāṃ”
• गाम्: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गाम् (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

• गीम्: seed syllable “gīṃ”
• गीम्: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गीम् (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

• हूं: seed syllable “hūṃ”
• हूं: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हूं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

• ह्रीं: seed syllable “hrīṃ”
• ह्रीं: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह्रीं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

• ह्रीं: seed syllable “hrīṃ” (repeated)
• ह्रीं: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह्रीं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय (पुनरुक्ति)

• शिरः: (on) the head
• शिरः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• शिखा: the topknot/crest (śikhā)
• शिखा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• गूं: seed syllable “gūṃ”
• गूं: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गूं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

• वर्म: armor/protective covering (kavaca)
• वर्म: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• गों: seed syllable “goṃ”
• गों: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गों (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

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

• गैं: seed syllable “gaiṃ”
• गैं: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गैं (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

• नेत्रम्: the eye(s)
• नेत्रम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• गों: seed syllable “goṃ”
• गों: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गों (बीजमन्त्र/अव्यय-प्रातिपदिकवत्)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र, अव्यय

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

• आवाहनादिषु: in (rites) such as invocation, etc.
• आवाहनादिषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवाहन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (आदि-शब्दान्त समाहार), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः—आवाहन-आदि (आवाहनं च तत्प्रभृतयः)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nyāsa as internal consecration: installing mantra-śakti in limbs to align body, speech, and mind with the invoked deity.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-bhāva (the indwelling sacred presence) expressed through ritual interiorization; śarīra as upādhi made fit for sādhana.

Application: Use deliberate, calm nyāsa with correct loci (heart, head, topknot, eyes) and kavaca-bīja to cultivate steadiness and a felt sense of protection before worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: body-mandala (hṛdaya/śiras/śikhā/netra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.129 (nyāsa, kavaca, āvāhana-ādi krama)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows nyāsa as a method of consecrating the practitioner’s body by placing specific bīja-syllables in key points (heart, head, eyes), forming a protective and worship-ready inner ritual body.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes ritual protection and sanctification through mantras, which the Garuda Purana often presents as supportive disciplines for purity, spiritual steadiness, and safeguarding during rites connected to dharma and transition-related practices.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that traditional practice values disciplined mental focus and protection through sacred recitation—performed respectfully under proper guidance—rather than casual or improvised mantra use.