Shloka 28

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

गन्धाद्यैरर्घ्यपात्रे च मन्त्रग्रामं न्यसेद्गुरुः / तेनार्घ्यपात्रतोयेन प्रोक्षयेद्यागमण्डपम्

Transliteration

gandhādyairarghyapātre ca mantragrāmaṃ nyasedguruḥ / tenārghyapātratoyena prokṣayedyāgamaṇḍapam

Translation

Placing fragrant substances and the like in the arghya vessel, the preceptor should install the collection of mantras; then, with the water from that arghya vessel, he should sprinkle and purify the sacrificial maṇḍapa.

Word by Word

• गन्धाद्यैः: with fragrances etc.
• गन्धाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; ‘गन्धादिभिः’ (etc. like sandal, flowers)

• अर्घ्यपात्रे: in the arghya-vessel
• अर्घ्यपात्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य + पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अर्घ्यस्य पात्रम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मन्त्रग्रामम्: the collection of mantras
• मन्त्रग्रामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्राणां ग्रामः = collection)

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-धाः/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘should place/assign’

• गुरुः: the teacher/priest
• गुरुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तेन: with that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अर्घ्यपात्रतोयेन: with the water of the arghya-vessel
• अर्घ्यपात्रतोयेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्यपात्र + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अर्घ्यपात्रस्य तोयम्)

• प्रोक्षयेत्: should sprinkle
• प्रोक्षयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; ‘should sprinkle’

• यागमण्डपम्: the sacrificial pavilion
• यागमण्डपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग + मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (यागस्य मण्डपः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a ritual-procedure context)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Before offerings/oblation sequence; during pavilion purification

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra and sanctified water mediate the devotee’s approach to the deity; sensory offerings support inner reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā as a means to citta-śuddhi; nāma/mantra as a support for concentration on the divine.

Application: Pair intention (mantra) with tangible acts (clean water, fragrance) to reinforce focus and reverence in worship.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual pavilion/altar area

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (arghya, mantra-nyāsa, prokṣaṇa sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of arghya-water sprinkling (prokṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents prokṣaṇa as a mandated purification step: water from the arghya-vessel, empowered by mantra-installation, is used to ritually cleanse the yāga-maṇḍapa before proceedings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual preparation and purity (mantra-nyāsa and prokṣaṇa), which the Garuda Purana treats as supportive disciplines within dharma and rite-based observances connected to life-cycle and post-death duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any traditional rite, prioritize procedural integrity: prepare a sanctified space, follow purification steps, and rely on competent guidance (guru/ācārya) rather than improvising.