Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

नदीसंगमतीरात्थां वालुकां तत्र दापयेत् / चतुरश्रं कार्मुकाभं वर्तुलं कमलाकृति

Transliteration

nadīsaṃgamatīrātthāṃ vālukāṃ tatra dāpayet / caturaśraṃ kārmukābhaṃ vartulaṃ kamalākṛti

Translation

One should place there sand brought from the sacred bank at a river confluence, arranging it in forms—square, bow-shaped, circular, and lotus-like.

Word by Word

• नदीसंगमतीरात्: from the bank at the river confluence
• नदीसंगमतीरात्: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी + संगम + तीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; ‘नद्याः संगमस्य तीरम्’ इति; Ablative singular (from the bank of the river-confluence)

• आत्थाम्: taken/collected
• आत्थाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘आस्थित/आत्थ’ इत्यर्थे; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying वालुकाम् (taken/obtained)

• वालुकाम्: sand
• वालुकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालुका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (there)

• दापयेत्: should have (it) placed/provided
• दापयेत्: Kriyā (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) ‘should cause to be given/placed’

• चतुरश्रम्: square
• चतुरश्रम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + अश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (four-cornered = square); Accusative singular (describing the form)

• कार्मुकाभम्: bow-shaped
• कार्मुकाभम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्मुक + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कार्मुकस्य आभा/आभम्’ = bow-shaped; Accusative singular

• वर्तुलम्: circular
• वर्तुलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्तुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• कमलाकृति: lotus-shaped
• कमलाकृति: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कमल + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कमलस्य आकृतिः’ इति; (text appears truncated; form likely qualifying an implied noun such as वेदी/रेखा)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred geography (tīrtha) and sacred form (ākṛti) cooperate: purified material arranged in prescribed shapes becomes a vessel for mantra and offering.

Vedantic Theme: Form as aid (upāya): external symbols (square/circle/lotus) guide the mind toward order, wholeness, and purity.

Application: When creating a worship space, use clean, consecrated materials and intentional geometry; let the arrangement support concentration and reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha (river confluence)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (material preparations for the ritual ground/vedi)

FAQs

What is the importance of using sand from a river confluence (nadī-saṅgama) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes sand specifically collected from a sacred confluence-bank, indicating its heightened ritual purity and efficacy for rites connected with the departed and ancestral offerings.

How does this verse relate to the journey of the soul after death?

In the Preta-focused instructions, correct ritual materials and prescribed arrangements support the intended post-death observances (such as śrāddha/piṇḍa-related procedures) that are traditionally believed to aid the departed’s transition.

What is a practical application of this instruction today?

If performing traditional śrāddha or memorial rites, one may follow the text’s emphasis on purity of materials (sacred-source sand) and careful, intentional arrangement—while also prioritizing ethical living and remembrance with reverence.