Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

पादांसुष्ठे गुल्फमध्ये जङ्घयोर्विद्धि जानुनोः / ऊर्वोर्गुह्ये च वृषणे नाड्यां नाभौ तनूदरे

Transliteration

pādāṃsuṣṭhe gulphamadhye jaṅghayorviddhi jānunoḥ / ūrvorguhye ca vṛṣaṇe nāḍyāṃ nābhau tanūdare

Translation

Know (these vital points) to be in the feet and toes, in the middle of the ankle, in the calves and at the knees; in the thighs, in the groin and the testicles; and along the nāḍīs, at the navel and within the abdomen.

Word by Word

• पादांशुष्ठे: at the big toe of the foot
• पादांशुष्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (पादस्य अङ्गुष्ठः) — Masculine, Locative singular; tatpurusha

• गुल्फमध्ये: in the middle of the ankle
• गुल्फमध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल्फ (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (गुल्फस्य मध्ये) — Neuter, Locative singular; tatpurusha

• जङ्घयोः: of the two shanks/legs
• जङ्घयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन — Feminine, Genitive dual

• विद्धि: know (you)
• विद्धि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — Imperative, 2nd person singular, parasmaipada

• जानुनोः: of the two knees
• जानुनोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन — Neuter, Genitive dual

• ऊर्वोः: of the two thighs
• ऊर्वोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), द्विवचन — Masculine, Genitive dual

• गुह्ये: in the groin/secret part
• गुह्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक — conjunction

• वृषणे: in the testicles
• वृषणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative singular

• नाड्याम्: in the channel/vein (nāḍī)
• नाड्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — Feminine, Locative singular

• नाभौ: in the navel
• नाभौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — Feminine, Locative singular

• तनूदरे: in the slender abdomen
• तनूदरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक) + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (तनु उदरम्) — Neuter, Locative singular; karmadharaya

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied knowledge for ritual efficacy: identifying loci (aṅga/avayava, nāḍī, nābhi, udara) supports correct placement and concentration.

Vedantic Theme: Śarīra as kṣetra (field) for sādhana; disciplined attention transforms bodily awareness into a support for inner realization.

Application: During nyāsa/dhyāna, place attention/touch sequentially at the stated regions (feet, ankles, calves, knees, thighs, groin, navel, abdomen) to stabilize mind and align breath with mantra.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: microcosmic sacred field

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.35.5 (nyāsa contexts)

FAQs

What is the importance of nāḍīs and vital points in the Garuda Purana?

This verse maps key bodily locations (feet through abdomen/navel) as seats or pathways relevant to prāṇa and subtle-channel doctrine, supporting the Purana’s explanation of how life-force and the subtle body relate to death and post-death transition.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by describing bodily loci and nāḍī-related regions, it provides the anatomical framework used in Garuda Purana discussions of prāṇa’s movement and the mechanics of departure at death, which underlies the soul’s subsequent journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a contemplative reminder of bodily impermanence and disciplined living; for practitioners, it also contextualizes why Garuda Purana death rituals emphasize orderly rites and focused remembrance, aligning mind and prāṇa at life’s end.