Shloka 3

Gāyatrī-nyāsa, Pāda-bheda, and Purificatory Power in Sādhana

Devanagari script

त्रैलोक्यचरणा ज्ञेया पृथिवीकुक्षिसंस्थिता / एवं ज्ञात्वा तु गायत्त्रीं जपेद्द्वादशलक्षकम्

Transliteration

trailokyacaraṇā jñeyā pṛthivīkukṣisaṃsthitā / evaṃ jñātvā tu gāyattrīṃ japeddvādaśalakṣakam

Translation

Know Gāyatrī as the “support of the three worlds”, abiding in the womb of the Earth. Having understood her thus, one should recite the Gāyatrī twelve lakṣas—1.2 million times.

Word by Word

• त्रैलोक्यचरणा: having the three worlds as (her) feet
• त्रैलोक्यचरणा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक) + चरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुषः (त्रैलोक्यस्य चरणाः/चरणा) — Feminine, Nominative singular

• ज्ञेया: should be known
• ज्ञेया: Vidhi (Injunctive predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थे भाव्य-कर्तव्यतासूचक ‘ज्ञेय’ (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त) — Feminine, Nominative singular; ‘to be known’

• पृथिवीकुक्षिसंस्थिता: situated in the earth’s womb
• पृथिवीकुक्षिसंस्थिता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक) + कुक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-स्था (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः; ‘संस्थित’ (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, past passive participle) — Feminine, Nominative singular; ‘situated in the earth’s womb’

• एवं: thus
• एवं: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण — Indeclinable adverb of manner

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) — having known

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात — particle (emphasis/contrast)

• गायत्त्रीम्: Gāyatrī (mantra)
• गायत्त्रीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — Feminine, Accusative singular

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — Optative, 3rd person singular, parasmaipada

• द्वादशलक्षकम्: twelve lakhs (1,200,000) [times]
• द्वादशलक्षकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वादश लक्षाणि यस्य) — Neuter, Accusative singular; dvigu compound

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-sādhana through quantified japa: knowing the devatā’s cosmic status is paired with a prescribed count (dvādaśa-lakṣa) to generate purification and merit.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana as citta-śuddhi and dhyāna-yogyatā; the mantra as a bridge from vyāvahārika (worldly) to adhyātmika (inner) realization.

Application: Undertake a structured japa-vrata aiming at 1.2 million repetitions, with daily quotas, purity observances, and steady contemplation of Gāyatrī as triloka-support.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic support/ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.35.5 (Gāyatrī vinyāsa as sin-destroyer); Garuda Purana 1.35.4 (pāda-structure for japa/arcana)

Characters & Entities

• Gāyatrī
• Pṛthivī (Earth)
• Trailokya (three worlds)

FAQs

What is the importance of Gāyatrī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Gāyatrī as the foundational spiritual power sustaining the three worlds, making her japa a central purifier and merit-producing practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prescribing sustained Gāyatrī japa, the verse emphasizes inner purification and dharmic merit—supports traditionally linked with favorable post-death outcomes and spiritual upliftment in Purāṇic teaching.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat mantra practice as disciplined, long-term sādhanā: consistent Gāyatrī recitation with understanding and reverence, aimed at ethical clarity and mental purification.