Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

अभिषिच्य समुद्रैश्च त्वर्घ्यं दद्यात्ततः पुनः / गन्धद्वारेति गन्धं च न्यासं वै वेदमन्त्रकैः

Transliteration

abhiṣicya samudraiśca tvarghyaṃ dadyāttataḥ punaḥ / gandhadvāreti gandhaṃ ca nyāsaṃ vai vedamantrakaiḥ

Translation

After performing abhiṣeka with the waters of the oceans, one should again offer arghya. Then, reciting “gandhadvāre…”, one should offer fragrance and perform nyāsa with Vedic mantras.

Word by Word

• अभिषिच्य: having sprinkled/anointed
• अभिषिच्य: Kriya (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√सिच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having sprinkled)

• समुद्रैः: with (waters of) seas
• समुद्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (adversative/emphatic particle)

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya-offering
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give/offer
• दद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Adhikarana (Temporal/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति/क्रम (adverb)

• गन्धद्वारे: in/with (the mantra phrase) “gandhadvāre”
• गन्धद्वारे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; मन्त्रपद-उद्धरण; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (gandha-dvāra = ‘door of fragrance’)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक

• गन्धम्: fragrance/perfume
• गन्धम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• न्यासम्: nyāsa (ritual placement)
• न्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/प्रसिद्धि (emphatic particle)

• वेदमन्त्रकैः: with Vedic mantras
• वेदमन्त्रकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Vedic mantras)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upacāra-sevā: honoring the deity through arghya, gandha, and Vedic-mantra nyāsa after purification.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-upāsanā purifies mind; ritual acts become offerings that reduce egoic doership.

Application: After cleansing, offer respectful oblation and fragrance with mantra; perform nyāsa carefully to align body-mind as a temple.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic waters invoked in ritual

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48.52-56 (sequence of snāna → arghya → gandha → nyāsa → maṇḍapa/śayyā rites)

FAQs

What is the importance of arghya and fragrance offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents arghya and gandha as formal acts of reverence and purification, completing the sequence of ritual honor after ablution and preparing the rite through sanctifying offerings.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana rites connected with death rituals or śrāddha?

It reflects the Purāṇic emphasis on correct Vedic-mode ritual steps—purification, respectful offering, and mantra-based consecration (nyāsa)—which commonly frame śrāddha and related observances described in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and intentionality in worship: begin with purification, offer respectfully (arghya), and recite mantras with attention—treating ritual as disciplined, mindful practice rather than mere formality.