Shloka 24

Pavitrāropaṇa-vidhi

Rite of Investing Hari with the Pavitra

Devanagari script

देवस्य पुरतः स्थाप्यं प्रतिमामण्डलस्य वा / पश्चिमे दक्षिणे चैव उत्तरे पूर्ववत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

devasya purataḥ sthāpyaṃ pratimāmaṇḍalasya vā / paścime dakṣiṇe caiva uttare pūrvavatkramāt

Translation

It should be set before the Deity, or within the icon’s ritual maṇḍala; and, if arranged by directions, it should also be placed in the west, the south, and the north—following the same sequence previously taught, in proper order.

Word by Word

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: 'in front')

• स्थाप्यम्: should be placed
• स्थाप्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्ययान्त), भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोग; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘स्थापनीयम्’ (to be placed)

• प्रतिमा-मण्डलस्य: of the image-circle/mandala
• प्रतिमा-मण्डलस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिमा (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (particle of option: 'or')

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दिशावाचक), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• दक्षिणे: in the south
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दिशावाचक), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction: 'and')

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दिशावाचक), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Sambandha (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/रीतिवाचक (adverb: 'as before')

• क्रमात्: in due order
• क्रमात्: Sambandha (Manner/Instrumental sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘क्रमेण’ (in order/stepwise)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (krama) and spatial sanctification through prescribed placement.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-upasana as a purifier of mind (chitta-shuddhi) through disciplined action.

Application: In any puja, keep offerings/implements in a consistent, scripturally guided order; avoid random placement that breaks attention and sanctity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/ritual space (pratima-mandala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.43 (puja-vidhi sequence; references to 'पूर्ववत्क्रमात्' implying earlier steps)

Characters & Entities

• Deva (deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of correct placement before the deity in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that ritual items should be placed in an orderly, prescribed manner—either directly before the deity or within the deity’s maṇḍala—because correct arrangement is part of proper dharmic worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it gives procedural guidance for worship/ritual order, which in the Garuda Purana framework supports dharma and auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing puja, keep offerings and ritual items arranged systematically (especially before the deity) and follow a consistent directional order rather than placing items randomly.