Shloka 26

Devanagari script

विष्टरेण स्पृशेद्दुव्यान्यागमण्डपसंभृतान् / अक्षतान्विकिरेत्पश्चादस्त्रपूतान्समन्ततः

Transliteration

viṣṭareṇa spṛśedduvyānyāgamaṇḍapasaṃbhṛtān / akṣatānvikiretpaścādastrapūtānsamantataḥ

Translation

He should touch the dūrvā grass gathered in the ritual pavilion with the sacred seat (viṣṭara). Thereafter, he should scatter unbroken rice‑grains (akṣata), purified by the astra weapon‑formula, all around.

Word by Word

• विष्टरेण: with the seat/spread (kuśa)
• विष्टरेण: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्टर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्रव्याणि: materials
• द्रव्याणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• आगमण्डपसंभृतान्: collected in the ritual pavilion
• आगमण्डपसंभृतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगमण्डप + संभृत (सम्+भृ (धातु) → संभृत, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (āga-maṇḍape sambhṛtāḥ = collected in the ritual pavilion)

• अक्षतान्: unbroken rice grains
• अक्षतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• विकिरेत्: should scatter
• विकिरेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + किर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kāla (Time/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अस्त्रपूतान्: purified by the astra (mantra)
• अस्त्रपूतान्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्त्र + पूत (पू (धातु) → पूत, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (astreṇa pūtāḥ = purified by the astra-mantra)

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Deśa (Place/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Consecrated substances and prescribed gestures create a sacred boundary; purity is maintained through mantra and correct sequence.

Vedantic Theme: Sattva-building through ordered action; external maṇḍala mirrors inner containment and steadiness.

Application: Create ‘protective boundaries’ for practice—limit distractions, set a clean perimeter (physical or digital), and begin with a consistent grounding action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (use of viṣṭara, dūrvā, akṣata; astra-pūta scattering)

FAQs

What is the importance of dūrvā and akṣata in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse presents them as sanctifying and protective ritual substances—dūrvā is ritually contacted with the sacred seat, and akṣata is scattered around to mark and guard the consecrated space.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey described in the Garuda Purana?

By prescribing purification and protective boundaries in rites connected to death and post-death observances, it supports the proper performance of karmic duties believed to aid the departed and maintain ritual order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing śrāddha or related rites, keep the ritual area orderly and consecrated, using traditional purity markers (like unbroken rice) with appropriate mantras as taught in one’s lineage.