Shloka 69

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मविष्णुहरेशानाः पूज्याः साधारणेन तु / दर्भेषु स्थापयेद्वह्निं दर्भैश्च परिवेष्टितम्

Transliteration

brahmaviṣṇuhareśānāḥ pūjyāḥ sādhāraṇena tu / darbheṣu sthāpayedvahniṃ darbhaiśca pariveṣṭitam

Translation

Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Hara (Śiva), and Īśāna are to be worshipped by the ordinary rite; one should place the sacred fire upon darbha grass and enclose it with darbha as well.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मविष्णुहरेशानाः: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Hara, and Īśāna
• ब्रह्मविष्णुहरेशानाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmā (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक) + īśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (समाहार/इतरेतर)

• पूज्याः: are to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: Karta (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūj (धातु) → pūjya (कृदन्त, यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/नीयार्थ)

• साधारणेन: with the common (mantra)
• साधारणेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मन्त्रेण—अध्याहृत)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• दर्भेषु: on/among darbha grasses
• दर्भेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• स्थापयेत्: should place
• स्थापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• दर्भैः: with darbhas
• दर्भैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• परिवेष्टितम्: surrounded/encircled
• परिवेष्टितम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-वेṣṭ् (धातु) → pariveṣṭita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषणम् (वह्निम् इति)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual completeness includes honoring key deities and establishing Agni on a pure, sattvic base (darbha) with protective enclosure.

Vedantic Theme: Many devatās as functional manifestations within one sacred order; ritual as a discipline that steadies mind toward the Supreme.

Application: Before offerings, ensure the fire/center is properly prepared; cultivate respect across traditions while keeping one’s primary iṣṭa-devatā focus.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: homa-kunda/altar with darbha arrangement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48.70 (darbha-water purification); Garuda Purana 1.48.71 (agni protection and presence)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Viṣṇu
• Hara (Śiva)
• Īśāna
• Darbha grass
• Sacred fire (Agni)

FAQs

What is the importance of darbha grass in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse presents darbha as a ritually pure support and boundary for sacred action—Agni is established on darbha and protected/defined by being encircled with it.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices around rites and offerings?

It gives a procedural instruction: worship of key deities is performed through a standard rite in which the sacred fire is formally established and ritually contained using darbha, a common requirement in Vedic-style ceremonies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing a traditional pūjā or śrāddha-style rite under guidance, maintain ritual cleanliness and proper setup—especially the correct establishment of fire (or its symbolic substitute) with prescribed pure materials like darbha.