Shloka 13

Mṛtyuñjaya/Amṛteśvara Upāsanā: Three-Syllable Mantra, Kavaca, Japa-Phala, and Pūjā-Aṅgas

Devanagari script

पूजा चाधारशक्त्यादेः प्राणायामं तथासने / पीठसुद्धिं ततः कुर्याच्छोषणाद्यैस्ततः स्मरेत्

Transliteration

pūjā cādhāraśaktyādeḥ prāṇāyāmaṃ tathāsane / pīṭhasuddhiṃ tataḥ kuryācchoṣaṇādyaistataḥ smaret

Translation

One should perform worship beginning with the Ādhāra-Śakti; then, seated in the proper āsana, practice prāṇāyāma. Thereafter one should purify the pīṭha—the seat or ritual ground—by rites such as choṣaṇa (“drying”) and the like, and then proceed to remembrance and contemplation.

Word by Word

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (सूचीकरणे कर्मरूपेण)

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

• आधारशक्त्यादेः: of (the deities/steps) beginning with Ādhāraśakti
• आधारशक्त्यादेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधारशक्ति + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आधारशक्तिः आदि यस्य/येषाम्)

• प्राणायामम्: breath-control
• प्राणायामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्राणस्य आयामः)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/उपमान-वाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘likewise/also’)

• आसने: in/at the seat (āsana)
• आसने: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पीठसुद्धिम्: purification of the pedestal/seat
• पीठसुद्धिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ + शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पीठस्य शुद्धिः)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम-वाचक अव्यय (thereafter)

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• शोषणाद्यैः: by (acts) such as drying up, etc.
• शोषणाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोषण + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शोषणम् आदि येषाम्)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम-वाचक अव्यय

• स्मरेत्: should remember/meditate
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual worship is supported by yogic discipline (prāṇāyāma, āsana) and purification of the seat/field, enabling effective contemplation.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi and ekāgratā as prerequisites for deeper upāsanā; bridging karma (ritual) and yoga (inner discipline).

Application: Before japa/pūjā, sit steadily, regulate breath briefly, tidy and sanctify the practice space, then begin remembrance with a collected mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: asana/ritual-seat (pīṭha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.18.14 (deva-rūpa-bhāvanā, nyāsa, heart-lotus); Garuda Purana 1.18.12 (preparatory purification of offerings)

Characters & Entities

• Ādhāra-Śakti

FAQs

What is the importance of pīṭha-śuddhi (seat/altar purification) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places pīṭha-śuddhi immediately after posture and prāṇāyāma, indicating that inner steadiness and outer ritual purity together prepare an appropriate space for successful worship and remembrance.

How does this verse explain the correct sequence of worship practice?

It gives a practical order: begin worship with Ādhāra-Śakti, stabilize the body with āsana and regulate breath through prāṇāyāma, purify the ritual seat via choṣaṇa and related steps, and then enter focused smaraṇa (contemplation).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any daily prayer or japa, sit steadily, do a brief breath practice, keep the worship area clean and sanctified, and then focus the mind on the chosen deity or mantra without distraction.