Shloka 44

Devanagari script

रुद्रं मूर्ध्ना समालभ्य प्रीणात्यथ शिखामृषीन् / बाहू यमेन्द्रवरुणकुबेरवसुधानलान्

Transliteration

rudraṃ mūrdhnā samālabhya prīṇātyatha śikhāmṛṣīn / bāhū yamendravaruṇakuberavasudhānalān

Translation

By touching and consecrating the head one propitiates Rudra; then, by sanctifying the topknot (śikhā), one pleases the sages. By sanctifying the arms, one propitiates Yama, Indra, Varuṇa, Kubera, Vasudhā (Earth), and Agni.

Word by Word

• रुद्रम्: Rudra
• रुद्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• मूर्ध्ना: with the head
• मूर्ध्ना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• समालभ्य: having touched/handled
• समालभ्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; परस्मैपद-धातु

• प्रीणाति: pleases/satisfies
• प्रीणाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रीण् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• शिखामृषीन्: the sages of the tuft (śikhā)
• शिखामृषीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखा (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिखायाः ऋषयः)

• बाहू: the two arms
• बाहू: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), द्विवचन

• यम: Yama
• यम: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• इन्द्र: Indra
• इन्द्र: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• वरुण: Varuṇa
• वरुण: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• कुबेर: Kubera
• कुबेर: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबेर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• वसुधा: Earth (Vasudhā)
• वसुधा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• अनलान्: fires/Agni(s)
• अनलान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; समासान्त-पद (yamendra-varuṇa-kubera-vasudhā-anala-ān)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Aṅga-nyāsa as sanctification: head to Rudra, topknot to ṛṣis, arms to lokapālas and elemental powers.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as immanent order: divine functions pervade the body and directions; ritual aligns the individual with cosmic ṛta.

Application: Before japa or pūjā, perform touch-nyāsa with brief mantras, cultivating reverence and a sense of guardedness and responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.43, 1.213.45 (continued nyāsa mapping)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Rishis
• Yama
• Indra
• Varuna
• Kubera
• Vasudha (Earth)
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking deities through the head, śikhā, and arms in the Garuda Purana?

This verse maps specific body regions to particular divine powers, teaching a ritual logic of consecration/nyāsa: by sanctifying the head, śikhā, and arms, one aligns oneself with Rudra, the sages, and key cosmic guardians who uphold order and judgment.

How does this verse relate to Yama and the afterlife teachings of the Garuda Purana?

By naming Yama among the deities propitiated through ritual acts, the verse implies that proper dharmic rites and purity support a favorable passage through Yama’s jurisdiction, where deeds are weighed and the soul’s onward journey is regulated.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ritual cleanliness and intentionality in ancestral rites (śrāddha, offerings, prayers), and live ethically—truthfulness, restraint, and generosity—so that one’s actions harmonize with the cosmic order represented by these deities.