Shloka 4

Sūrya-upāsanā: Lotus Mandala, Mudrā, Dik-nyāsa, and the Twelve Ādityas

Devanagari script

पौरन्दर्यां न्यसेद्धर्ंममेकाग्रस्थितमानसः / वायव्यां चैव नेत्रं तु वारुण्यामस्त्रमेव च

Transliteration

paurandaryāṃ nyaseddharṃmamekāgrasthitamānasaḥ / vāyavyāṃ caiva netraṃ tu vāruṇyāmastrameva ca

Translation

With a one-pointed, steady mind, one should place Dharma in Indra’s quarter; in Vāyu’s quarter one should place the Eye; and in Varuṇa’s quarter, indeed, the protective weapon.

Word by Word

• पौरन्दर्यां: in the eastern direction (Indra’s quarter)
• पौरन्दर्यां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular; दिक्-विशेषण-स्थानवाचक

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/स्य (धातु; न्यासे)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should place/assign’

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• एकाग्रस्थितमानसः: with a mind fixed in one-pointed concentration
• एकाग्रस्थितमानसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाग्र + स्थित + मानस (प्रातिपदिक); स्थित (√स्था, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular; विशेषण (agent’s state)

• वायव्यां: in the north-west direction (Vāyu’s quarter)
• वायव्यां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular; दिक्-स्थानवाचक

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• नेत्रम्: the eye
• नेत्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• वारुण्याम्: in the western direction (Varuṇa’s quarter)
• वारुण्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular; दिक्-स्थानवाचक

• अस्त्रम्: weapon
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन — accusative singular

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ekāgratā with dik-nyāsa: placing Dharma, the Eye (cakṣus/vision), and protective weapon as guardians of space and conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Rita-to-dharma alignment; ordering the outer (dik) to steady the inner (antaḥkaraṇa).

Application: Use mindful, one-pointed attention while beginning worship/nyāsa; mentally assign ethical restraint (dharma), vigilant awareness (netra), and protective resolve (astra) to the quarters before japa or pūjā.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-mandala/directional-quarters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.17.5-1.17.8 (continuation of dik-devatā and solar/Viṣṇu mapping)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vayu
• Varuna
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of placing Dharma in Indra’s quarter in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links ritual visualization (nyāsa) with cosmic order, assigning Dharma to Indra’s quarter to stabilize righteous orientation during the practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes disciplined concentration and protective alignment with divine guardians, which the Garuda Purana often presents as supports for right conduct and safe passage in subtle realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate one-pointed attention in prayer/meditation and live by dharma; use protective remembrance of divine order (dikpālas) as a mental framework for ethical clarity.