Shloka 88

Devanagari script

दीर्घायुष्ट्वाय हृदये श्रीश्चते गलके न्यसेत् / त्रातारमिन्द्रमुरसि नेत्राभ्यां तु त्रियम्बकम्

Transliteration

dīrghāyuṣṭvāya hṛdaye śrīścate galake nyaset / trātāramindramurasi netrābhyāṃ tu triyambakam

Translation

For the sake of long life, one should place (the nyāsa) Śrīśa in the heart and Ceta at the throat; one should place Indra, the protector, upon the chest, and Triyambaka (Śiva) in the two eyes.

Word by Word

• दीर्घायुष्ट्वाय: for long life
• दीर्घायुष्ट्वाय: Sampradana (Purpose/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दीर्घम् आयुः यस्य/दीर्घायुः + त्व)

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• श्रीः: Śrī (prosperity/goddess)
• श्रीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन

• चते: and for you (as mantra-phrase)
• चते: Sambandha/Mantra-pada
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय) + ते (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: च (समुच्चय-अव्यय) + ते (षष्ठी/चतुर्थी एकवचन-रूप; मन्त्रपदांश)

• गलके: in the throat
• गलके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्/न्यस् (धातु) + नि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रातारम्: the protector
• त्रातारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• इन्द्रम्: Indra
• इन्द्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन

• उरसि: on the chest
• उरसि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नेत्राभ्याम्: with the two eyes
• नेत्राभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3/करण), द्विवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-निपात

• त्रियम्बकम्: Tryambaka (three-eyed one, Śiva)
• त्रियम्बकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + अम्बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (त्रीणि अम्बकानि यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āyus-prayoga through nyāsa: invoking specific devatās in vital centers (hṛdaya, kaṇṭha, uras, netra) for protection and long life.

Vedantic Theme: Prāṇa and indriya-saṃyama supported by upāsanā: sanctifying vital loci stabilizes mind and senses.

Application: During worship, place mantras with tactile awareness at heart/throat/chest/eyes; pair with regulated breathing to steady prāṇa and attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48.87 (limb nyāsa); Garuda Purana 1.48.89 (crown placement and homa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Śrīśa)
• Indra
• Shiva (Triyambaka)

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa (placing deities on the body) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows nyāsa as a protective, life-supporting rite: specific deities are invoked in key bodily centers to guard vitality, speech/breath, strength, and sight.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly—by teaching protective ritual discipline (nyāsa) that sustains life and clarity of the senses, it supports dharmic living, which the Garuda Purana links to a favorable post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to protect the “centers” it names: keep the heart pure (ethics), the throat truthful (speech), the chest steady (courage), and the eyes restrained (right perception).