Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

द्वितीयायां तु कक्षायां सूर्यान्द्वादश पूजयेत् / भगः सूर्योर्ऽय्यमा चैव मित्रो वै वरुणस्तथा

Transliteration

dvitīyāyāṃ tu kakṣāyāṃ sūryāndvādaśa pūjayet / bhagaḥ sūryor'yyamā caiva mitro vai varuṇastathā

Translation

In the second enclosure (kakṣā), one should worship the twelve forms of the Sun—Bhaga, Sūrya, Aryamā, Mitra, and also Varuṇa.

Word by Word

• द्वितीयायां: in the second
• द्वितीयायां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular; क्रमवाचक विशेषण

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

• कक्षायां: in the enclosure/compartment (circle)
• कक्षायां: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative singular

• सूर्यान्: the Suns (solar deities)
• सूर्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन — accusative plural

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्यावाचक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; द्वितीया-बहुवचनार्थे विशेषण (agreeing with सूर्यान्)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन — ‘should worship’

• भगः: Bhaga
• भगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular

• सूर्योः: of the two Sūryas
• सूर्योः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन — genitive dual (‘of the two’)

• अय्यमा: Aryaman
• अय्यमा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अय्यमा/अर्यमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular; (पाठभेद: अर्यमा)

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

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

• मित्रः: Mitra
• मित्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक अव्यय (particle: indeed)

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — nominative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक/रीत्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship of Sūrya in twelve aspects (Ādityas) as a disciplined devotional contemplation of one light through many functions.

Vedantic Theme: Ekaṃ sat—many names/forms; saguna contemplation leading toward inner clarity (sattva) and steadiness.

Application: Adopt a structured daily reverence for light/time (sunrise practice, gratitude, truthfulness); contemplate different ‘functions’ of the divine in daily roles.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-enclosure/mandala-layer

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.17.8 (twelve as forms of Viṣṇu)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Bhaga
• Aryama
• Mitra
• Varuna
• Adityas

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping the twelve Adityas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Surya’s twelvefold form as a structured focus of worship; honoring these Adityas is portrayed as a disciplined ritual step that invokes cosmic order (ṛta) and auspicious support.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames a ritual progression (kakṣā-wise sequence) where solar deities are invoked as guiding powers—suggesting that alignment with dharma through prescribed worship supports safe passage and well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a regular Surya-upāsanā practice (e.g., respectful sunrise prayer/recitation) with ethical living—truthfulness and discipline—reflecting the Adityas’ association with order and integrity.