Shloka 17

Devanagari script

आग्निं संसुप्तिमन्त्रेण यमोनागेति दक्षिणे / पूज्या रक्षोहनोवेति पश्चिमे उत्तरे ऽपि च

Transliteration

āgniṃ saṃsuptimantreṇa yamonāgeti dakṣiṇe / pūjyā rakṣohanoveti paścime uttare 'pi ca

Translation

Agni is to be invoked with the Saṃsupti-mantra; in the southern quarter one should invoke Yama and the Nāgas. In the west one should invoke the venerable one worthy of worship; and in the north also, the destroyer of rākṣasas.

Word by Word

• आग्निम्: Agni (fire-deity)
• आग्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• संसुप्ति-मन्त्रेण: with the Saṃsupti mantra
• संसुप्ति-मन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसुप्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular masculine; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (संसुप्तेः मन्त्रः)

• यम-उना-गेति: “yamo nāge” (thus)
• यम-उना-गेति: Sambandha (Quotation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक) + उना (अव्यय/निपात-रूप) + ग (धातु √गम्) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: मन्त्र-पाठ-निर्देशः; 'इति' इत्यनेन उद्धरण-समाप्तिः; mantra-quotation marker

• दक्षिणे: in the south (direction)
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular neuter

• पूज्याः: (they) are to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त; √पूज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; gerundive (तव्यत्) ‘to be worshipped’

• रक्षः-हनः-उ-वेति: “rakṣo hano” (thus)
• रक्षः-हनः-उ-वेति: Sambandha (Quotation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक) + हन् (धातु √हन्) + उ (अव्यय/निपात-रूप) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: मन्त्र-पाठ-निर्देशः; 'इति' इत्यनेन उद्धरण-समाप्तिः; mantra-quotation marker

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular neuter

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular neuter

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); ‘also/even’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preparatory dikpāla-pūjana/āvāhana within śrāddha or allied smārta rite

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and directional guardianship as a means of protection and sanctification.

Vedantic Theme: Adhidaivika ordering of space: the many deities as functional expressions within a single cosmic governance.

Application: When performing śrāddha/household rites, maintain disciplined sequence, invoke protective powers per direction, and treat the ritual boundary as sacred.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-mandala/household-threshold

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (directional worship; dikpala-nyasa context)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Yama
• Nagas
• Rakshasas

FAQs

What is the importance of directional deity-invocation in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that rites are performed with direction-specific invocations—Agni, Yama/Nāgas, and protective powers—so the ritual space is sanctified and guarded according to dharmic procedure.

Why is Yama invoked in the southern direction?

The south is traditionally associated with Yama’s domain; invoking Yama there aligns the rite with the cosmic order governing death, judgment, and the soul’s onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha, antyeṣṭi-related prayers, or protective pūjā, follow a disciplined, orderly method—honor appropriate deities and keep the ritual space focused, reverent, and protected from disruptive influences.