Shloka 10

Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi: Gateway Deities, Lotus-Mandala, Nyāsa, Navagrahas, and Arghya

Devanagari script

दिस्वस्त्रं पूजयेद्रुद्र सोमं तु श्वेतवर्णकम् / दले पूर्वेर्ऽचयेद्रुद्र बुधं चामीकरप्रभम्

Transliteration

disvastraṃ pūjayedrudra somaṃ tu śvetavarṇakam / dale pūrver'cayedrudra budhaṃ cāmīkaraprabham

Translation

One should worship Rudra by offering a garment. Soma should be worshipped as white in complexion. On the eastern petal, one should worship Rudra, and also Budha (Mercury), who shines like gold.

Word by Word

• दिक्: direction (as locus/quarter)
• दिक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन (दिक्)

• वस्त्रम्: garment/cloth (offering)
• वस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

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

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधनरूपेण

• सोमम्: Soma (Moon)
• सोमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• श्वेतवर्णकम्: white-colored
• श्वेतवर्णकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत + वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्वेतः वर्णकः)

• दले: in/on the petal
• दले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• पूर्वे: in the east
• पूर्वे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; दिक्शब्दः (in the east)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन

• बुधम्: Budha (Mercury)
• बुधम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

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

• अमीकरप्रभम्: golden-lustrous
• अमीकरप्रभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमीकर + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अमीकरस्य प्रभा यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual harmonization with cosmic forces (grahas) through proper offerings, directions, and dhyāna of color-form.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as the ordered intelligence behind cosmic regularities; upāsanā refines karma into sattva.

Application: When performing graha-śānti or daily pūjā, visualize each graha with its traditional varṇa and place it correctly in the maṇḍala to cultivate clarity and steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: yantric lotus diagram / altar layout

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.39.11–12 (other directional grahas)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Soma
• Budha

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Soma as white in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse prescribes Soma’s śveta (white) form to match his lunar purity symbolism, guiding correct visualization and offerings in ritual worship.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual layouts like lotus/mandala worship?

By specifying “on the eastern petal,” the verse indicates a directional placement within a lotus/mandala scheme, where deities and grahas are invoked in assigned positions for orderly worship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In any puja, keep offerings and visualization consistent with the deity’s described qualities (e.g., Soma’s whiteness, Budha’s golden radiance) and follow a clear, disciplined ritual order.