Shloka 13

The Procedure of Worship (Śrīdharapūjā-vidhi)

Devanagari script

प्रसन्नवदनं सौम्यं स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डलम् / किरीटिनमुदाराङ्गं वनमालासमन्वितम्

Transliteration

prasannavadanaṃ saumyaṃ sphuranmakarakuṇḍalam / kirīṭinamudārāṅgaṃ vanamālāsamanvitam

Translation

He appeared with a serene face and gentle aspect, wearing shining makara-shaped earrings; crowned, with noble and splendid limbs, and adorned with the forest-garland (vanamālā).

Word by Word

• prasanna-vadanam: with a serene face
• prasanna-vadanam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (face is serene)

• saumyam: gentle; auspicious
• saumyam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘देवम्’ इति विशेषण

• sphuran: shining; flashing
• sphuran: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphur (स्फुर् धातु)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन रूपेण; अत्र ‘…कुण्डलम्’ इति विशेषणार्थे (shining)

• makara-kuṇḍalam: makara-shaped earring(s)
• makara-kuṇḍalam: Karma (Object as attribute/वर्ण्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makara (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (earring of makara-shape)

• kirīṭinam: wearing a crown
• kirīṭinam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kirīṭin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; मतुप्/इनि-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (crowned)

• udāra-aṅgam: with noble limbs
• udāra-aṅgam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udāra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (limbs are noble)

• vana-mālā-samanvitam: adorned with a forest garland
• vana-mālā-samanvitam: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + mālā (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (समन्वित, प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (endowed with forest-garland)

Speaker

Narrator (descriptive verse within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saguṇa-dhyāna: contemplating the Lord’s auspicious form (saumya, prasanna) as a support for steadiness and grace.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa Brahman as upāsya leading the mind toward śānti and ultimately to deeper realization; beauty as a doorway to the Absolute.

Application: In meditation, hold a stable, benevolent image of the Lord (face, crown, earrings, garland) to reduce agitation and cultivate trust and ethical clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: vision within meditation/shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30.12 (dhyāna instruction and radiance simile)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (implied by iconography: kirīṭa, makara-kuṇḍala, vanamālā)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu’s iconographic description in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses classic Vaishnava iconography—crown, makara-earrings, and vanamālā—to evoke Vishnu’s auspicious, protective presence, grounding the teaching in devotional remembrance (smaraṇa) and dharmic orientation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by foregrounding the vision of the serene, auspicious Lord, it points to refuge in Vishnu as the spiritual anchor behind discussions of dharma, karma, and liberation found in the Garuda Purana’s wider narrative.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the imagery for daily remembrance—mentally visualizing the calm, auspicious form of Vishnu—to cultivate steadiness, ethical conduct, and devotion alongside any ritual or scriptural study.