Shloka 1

The Procedure of Worship (Śrīdharapūjā-vidhi)

Devanagari script

पूजनविधिर्नामैकोनत्रिंशो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / विस्तरेण प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रीधरस्यार्चनं शुभम् / परिवारश्च सर्वेषां समोज्ञेयो हि पण्डितैः

Transliteration

pūjanavidhirnāmaikonatriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / vistareṇa pravakṣyāmi śrīdharasyārcanaṃ śubham / parivāraśca sarveṣāṃ samojñeyo hi paṇḍitaiḥ

Translation

“The chapter called ‘The Procedure of Worship’.” Sūta said: “I shall set forth in detail the auspicious rite of adoration (arcana) of Śrīdhara (Viṣṇu), and also His entire attendant retinue (parivāra); this the learned should rightly understand.”

Word by Word

• पूजनविधिः: the procedure of worship
• पूजनविधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पूजनस्य विधिः)

• नाम: named; called
• नाम: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात; ‘called/namely’ इत्यर्थे

• एकोनत्रिंशः: twenty-ninth
• एकोनत्रिंशः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या) + ऊन (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रिंशत् (संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (29th/‘one less than thirty’)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (वक्ता)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• विस्तरेण: in detail
• विस्तरेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; करण/रीत्या (in detail)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन

• श्रीधरस्य: of Śrīdhara (Viṣṇu)
• श्रीधरस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• अर्चनम्: worship; adoration
• अर्चनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण (अर्चनम्)

• परिवारः: retinue; attendant deities
• परिवारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिवार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

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

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (सामान्य), षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• समः: equal; same
• समः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (परिवारः)

• ज्ञेयः: to be known; should be understood
• ज्ञेयः: Vidhi (Injunctive predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; भाव्य/कर्तव्यार्थक कृदन्त (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय), ‘to be known’

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

• पण्डितैः: by the learned
• पण्डितैः: Karana (Agent-instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), बहुवचन; कर्तृकरणभाव (by the learned)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right worship (arcana) of Śrīdhara includes understanding the parivāra; completeness of devotion includes honoring the divine retinue and ritual order.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti supported by śāstra-pramāṇa and disciplined practice (vidhi) to stabilize the mind toward īśvara.

Application: Study and follow a coherent worship procedure; include parivāra-devatā offerings/acknowledgment rather than isolated deity-focus.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: narrative assembly (śravaṇa-sabhā) / teaching setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.29.6-7 (preceding setup and parivāra/attendant contemplation); Garuda Purana 1.30.2-3 (nyāsa and mudrā/dhyāna as parts of the procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Śrīdhara (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What is the importance of Pūjana-vidhi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the chapter as a detailed, auspicious guide to Śrīdhara’s worship, emphasizing correct understanding of both the main deity and the associated parivāra (attendant deities).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not describe the soul’s journey here; instead, it introduces ritual worship (arcana) as a dharmic practice that supports spiritual purification and devotional orientation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach worship methodically: learn the steps, keep the intention auspicious, and understand the broader sacred context (the deity’s parivāra) rather than performing rituals mechanically.