Shloka 21

Prāṇeśvara Garuḍa-Mantra: Timing (Velā), Nāga-Grahas, Nyāsa, Haṃsa-Rite, and Viṣa-Cikitsā

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठादि कनिष्ठान्तं करे न्यस्याथ देहके / के (कै) वक्क्रे हृदि लिङ्गे च पादयोर्गरुडस्य हि

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhādi kaniṣṭhāntaṃ kare nyasyātha dehake / ke (kai) vakkre hṛdi liṅge ca pādayorgaruḍasya hi

Translation

Placing (the fingers) upon the body—from the thumb up to the little finger—one should perform the prescribed nyāsa, touching the face/mouth, the heart, the generative organ, and the feet; this indeed is the procedure connected with Garuḍa.

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठ-आदि: beginning with the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठ-आदि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘अङ्गुष्ठादि (क्रमः)’ इति

• कनिष्ठ-अन्तम्: ending with the little finger
• कनिष्ठ-अन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘कनिष्ठा अन्तः यस्य’ इति

• करे: in the hand
• करे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु) → न्यस्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; ‘placing’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• देहके: on the body
• देहके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• के: in (the place)
• के: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; पाठभेदः ‘के/कै’; here as locative ‘in/at what (place)’ used for nyāsa-points

• वक्क्रे: in the mouth/curved part (i.e., mouth)
• वक्क्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; spelling variant for ‘वक्रे’

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• लिङ्गे: in the genital organ
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

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

• पादयोः: in the two feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), द्विवचन (also genitive dual possible); here locative dual ‘in the two feet’

• गरुडस्य: of Garuḍa
• गरुडस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/हेतौ निपात (indeed/for)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nyāsa installs divine/vidyā power into the body; correct placement aligns speech, mind, and touch to invoke Garuḍa’s protection.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā through śarīra-adhyāsa (ritual superimposition) transforming the body into a vehicle of sacred presence.

Application: Follow a consistent nyāsa sequence (digits → key body centers) to improve attention, reduce panic, and standardize protective practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (home shrine/temple/medical-ritual setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.19.24 (vowel-nyāsa mapping to body points); Garuda Purana 1.19.22-23 (mantra-japa efficacy for poison)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights nyāsa as a protective, mantra-based ritual act—placing sacred power on specific limbs (hand, face, heart, generative organ, feet) to sanctify the practitioner and the rite.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: in the Preta Kanda context, such ritual disciplines are taught to support correct funerary/after-death observances; nyāsa is presented as a preparatory purification and protection practice rather than a direct description of the soul’s journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows traditional rites, perform them with bodily and mental discipline—using structured mantra-practices (like nyāsa) to cultivate reverence, focus, and ritual correctness, especially in death-related ceremonies.