Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा शिरसि तत्पात्रं जानुभ्यामवनिं गतः / दर्घ्यं तु सूर्याय त्दृन्मन्त्रेण वृषध्वज

Transliteration

kṛtvā śirasi tatpātraṃ jānubhyāmavaniṃ gataḥ / darghyaṃ tu sūryāya tdṛnmantreṇa vṛṣadhvaja

Translation

Placing that vessel upon his head and kneeling down to the ground, he should then offer arghya to Sūrya, using the prescribed mantra, O Vṛṣadhvaja.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done; having placed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having done/placed'

• शिरसि: on the head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (neuter, locative singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (pronoun used adjectivally, acc sg)

• पात्रम्: vessel; bowl
• पात्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular)

• जानुभ्याम्: with (both) knees
• जानुभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन (neuter, instrumental dual)

• अवनिम्: the ground; earth
• अवनिम्: Karma (Goal as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (feminine, accusative singular)

• गतः: having gone; having approached
• गतः: Karta (Agent/subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) → गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (past participle, masc nom sg)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya-offering
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrast/emphasis particle)

• सूर्याय: to the Sun
• सूर्याय: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (masculine, dative singular)

• तदृक्: that (specific)
• तदृक्: Visheshana (Qualifier in compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तदृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक (adjectival stem; here as compound member meaning 'of that kind/that (hymn)')

• मन्त्रेण: with the (prescribed) mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (masculine, instrumental singular); समास: तदृक्-मन्त्र (that hymn/mantra)

• वृषध्वज: O Bull-bannered one (Śiva)
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन (masculine, vocative singular); समास: वृषः ध्वजः यस्य सः (one whose banner is the bull)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kriyā-yukta upāsanā: correct bodily conduct and mantra together make the offering efficacious.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga as discipline of body and mind; action offered with reverence reduces ego (ahaṅkāra).

Application: Offer arghya with attention: stable posture, respectful lowering, correct mantra; treat the act as mindful surrender rather than mere routine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: open sky-facing worship spot (courtyard/riverbank/temple threshold)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.39 (arghya to Sūrya with mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

What is the importance of offering arghya to Surya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents arghya to Sūrya as a prescribed ritual act performed with reverence and mantra, indicating purification and alignment with dharma in rites connected to transitional (preta) observances.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual conduct (posture, vessel, mantra, and deity) as part of the prescribed duties that support orderly post-death rites, which the Garuda Purana links with the deceased’s welfare.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform offerings and daily/occasional rites with humility, correct method, and mindful recitation—treating ritual actions as disciplined, reverential practices rather than mechanical habits.