Shloka 45

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

अभ्युक्ष्य चरणौ विष्णुमिन्द्रं विष्णु करद्वयम् / अग्निर्वायुश्च सूर्येन्दुगिरयो ऽङ्गुलिपर्वसु

Transliteration

abhyukṣya caraṇau viṣṇumindraṃ viṣṇu karadvayam / agnirvāyuśca sūryendugirayo 'ṅguliparvasu

Translation

Having ritually sprinkled water, one should contemplate Viṣṇu in the feet; Indra and Viṣṇu in the two hands; and in the joints of the fingers remember Agni, Vāyu, the Sun, the Moon, and the mountains.

Word by Word

• अभ्युक्ष्य: having sprinkled
• अभ्युक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + उक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; परस्मैपद

• चरणौ: the two feet
• चरणौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), द्विवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

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

• विष्णु: Viṣṇu (as qualifier)
• विष्णु: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-रूपेण (viṣṇu-karadvayam)

• करद्वयम्: the pair of hands
• करद्वयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (द्वौ करौ)

• अग्निः: Agni (fire)
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• वायुः: Vāyu (wind)
• वायुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

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

• सूर्येन्दुगिरयः: the sun, the moon, and the mountains
• सूर्येन्दुगिरयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + गिरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (सूर्य + इन्दु + गिरि)

• अङ्गुलिपर्वसु: in the joints of the fingers
• अङ्गुलिपर्वसु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अङ्गुलीनां पर्वाणि)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After ritual sprinkling, install Viṣṇu in the feet; Indra and Viṣṇu in the hands; and Agni, Vāyu, Sun, Moon, and mountains in finger-joints—sanctifying action and movement.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-smarana in karma: bodily acts become offerings when grounded in remembrance of Viṣṇu.

Application: Before daily duties, perform brief abhyukṣaṇa and mentally dedicate walking (feet) and work (hands) to Viṣṇu; use finger-joint awareness as a mindfulness anchor.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.43–46 (nyāsa and morning purification sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Indra
• Agni
• Vayu
• Surya
• Chandra
• Giris (mountains)

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa (placing deities) in Garuḍa Purāṇa practice?

This verse shows a ritual method of sanctifying the body by mentally placing specific deities in the feet, hands, and finger-joints, making worship focused and purified.

How does this verse relate to Garuḍa Purāṇa teachings on dharma and ritual conduct?

It frames dharmic living through disciplined worship—purification (sprinkling) followed by structured remembrance of deities—emphasizing correct procedure (ācāra) as foundational.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before prayer, perform simple purification (ācamana/sprinkling) and a brief mental nyāsa—feet and hands as sacred—cultivating reverence, attention, and ethical restraint.