Shloka 30

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

स्तुत्वा ध्यायेत्स्वहृदये ब्रह्मरूपिणमव्ययम् / एलं तु पूजयेद्विष्णुं मूलमन्त्रेण शङ्कर

Transliteration

stutvā dhyāyetsvahṛdaye brahmarūpiṇamavyayam / elaṃ tu pūjayedviṣṇuṃ mūlamantreṇa śaṅkara

Translation

Having offered praise, one should meditate within one’s own heart on the Imperishable One whose form is Brahman; then—O Śaṅkara—one should worship Viṣṇu using the root (principal) mantra.

Word by Word

• स्तुत्वा: having praised
• स्तुत्वा: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √स्तु (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• ध्यायेत्: should meditate
• ध्यायेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• स्वहृदये: in one’s own heart
• स्वहृदये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) → स्वहृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य हृदयम्)

• ब्रह्मरूपिणम्: the one whose form is Brahman
• ब्रह्मरूपिणम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक) → ब्रह्मरूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मरूपः)

• अव्ययम्: imperishable
• अव्ययम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• एलम्: this (him/this one)
• एलम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद्/एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पाठभेदः—‘एतं/एनं’ इत्यर्थे

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Vishnu
• विष्णुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मूलमन्त्रेण: with the root-mantra
• मूलमन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) → मूलमन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• शङ्कर: O Shankara
• शङ्कर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, addressing Śaṅkara)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditate on the imperishable Brahman-form within the heart and worship Viṣṇu with the principal mantra—inner realization joined with devotional ritual.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman–Īśvara integration: the imperishable reality contemplated inwardly is worshipped as Viṣṇu; upāsanā leading toward liberation.

Application: After stuti, sit quietly, place attention in the heart, contemplate the changeless reality, then perform mantra-based pūjā/japa with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner sanctum (antar-mandira)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.31 (mūlamantra-japa leads to Hari); Garuda Purana 1.31.32 (recitation/hearing grants Vishnuloka)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shankara

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on the Brahman-form in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames worship as beginning with inner contemplation—seeing the Lord as imperishable Brahman in the heart—before proceeding to external ritual worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing the Imperishable (avyaya) Brahman-nature of the Lord, it points to liberation-oriented devotion: remembrance and worship of Viṣṇu as the stable refuge beyond decay.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin daily practice with brief praise, then silent heart-centered meditation on the Divine as imperishable, and conclude with mantra-based worship (japa/puja) using a primary mantra received in tradition.