Shloka 21

Devanagari script

गणं गुरून्प्रपूज्याथ सर्वान्देवानन्प्रपूजयेत् / ॐ गं गणपतये नमः / ॐ अं गुरुभ्यो नमः

Transliteration

gaṇaṃ gurūnprapūjyātha sarvāndevānanprapūjayet / oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ / oṃ aṃ gurubhyo namaḥ

Translation

After duly worshipping Gaṇa (Gaṇapati) and the gurus, one should then worship all the gods. (Mantras:) “Oṁ gaṁ—salutations to Gaṇapati.” “Oṁ aṁ—salutations to the gurus.”

Word by Word

• गणम्: the group; Gaṇa (Gaṇeśa/attendants)
• गणम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (masculine, accusative singular)

• गुरून्: the teachers; gurus
• गुरून्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masculine, accusative plural)

• प्रपूज्य: having worshipped
• प्रपूज्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पूज् (धातु) → प्रपूज्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having duly worshipped'

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (sequence marker)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masculine, accusative plural)

• देवान्: the gods
• देवान्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (masculine, accusative plural)

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (optative, active, 3rd sg)

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Mantra (Invocation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रणव (invocation)

• गं: gaṃ
• गं: Mantra (Seed syllable)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गं (अव्यय/बीज)
• Form: बीजाक्षर (Gaṇeśa-bīja)

• गणपतये: to Gaṇapati
• गणपतये: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (masculine, dative singular); समास: गणानां पतिः (lord of groups)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (Salutation act)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable used in salutations; governs dative)

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Mantra (Invocation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रणव (invocation)

• अं: aṃ
• अं: Mantra (Seed syllable)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अं (अव्यय/बीज)
• Form: बीजाक्षर (guru-bīja/varṇa)

• गुरुभ्यः: to the gurus
• गुरुभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचन (masculine, dative plural)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (Salutation act)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक-अव्यय (salutation particle; governs dative)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual success depends on honoring the remover of obstacles and the teaching lineage before broader worship.

Vedantic Theme: Guru as upāya (means) to knowledge; devotion ordered by adhikāra and saṃskāra.

Application: Begin undertakings with Gaṇeśa remembrance; offer respect to teachers/elders; then proceed to main deity worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (home shrine/temple)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.39 (pūjā-krama: Gaṇa → guru → devas)

Characters & Entities

• Ganesha (Ganapati)
• Gurus
• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Ganapati and the gurus in the Garuda Purana?

This verse sets the ritual sequence: first invoke Gaṇapati (remover of obstacles) and honor the gurus, then proceed to worship the devas—ensuring the rite begins with clarity, authority of tradition, and obstacle-free completion.

How does this verse relate to the path of the soul described in the Garuda Purana?

In the Preta Kanda context, correct ritual order supports the intended spiritual efficacy of rites connected with the departed—preparing the practitioner to perform further procedures that aid the soul’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any serious religious observance (especially shrāddha or memorial rites), begin with Gaṇapati and guru salutations, then continue to the main worship—prioritizing humility, lineage-respect, and disciplined sequence.