Shloka 10

Worship (Pūjā): Vajra-nābha Maṇḍala Construction, Lotus-Seat Design, and Vaiṣṇava Nyāsa

Devanagari script

कर्णिकां पीतवर्णेन सितरक्तादिकेसरैः / अन्तरं नीलवर्णेन दलानि असितेन च

Transliteration

karṇikāṃ pītavarṇena sitaraktādikesaraiḥ / antaraṃ nīlavarṇena dalāni asitena ca

Translation

Its central pericarp (karnikā) is yellow; its filaments are white, red, and other hues; the inner space is blue; and its petals are dark in color.

Word by Word

• कर्णिकाम्: the pericarp/central part (of a lotus/diagram)
• कर्णिकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पीत: yellow
• पीत: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (कृदन्त; √पा/पिब्? here adjective 'yellow')
• Form: भूतकृदन्त-प्राय विशेषण; समासाङ्ग

• वर्णेन: with color
• वर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पीतवर्णेन: with yellow color
• पीतवर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीत + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (पीतः वर्णः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सित: white
• सित: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: विशेषण; समासाङ्ग

• रक्त: red
• रक्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: विशेषण; समासाङ्ग

• आदि: and so on
• आदि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; समासाङ्ग (आदि = 'etc.')

• केसरैः: with filaments/stamens
• केसरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सितरक्तादिकेसरैः: with white, red, etc. filaments
• सितरक्तादिकेसरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सित + रक्त + आदि + केसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (विशेषणसमाहार: सित-रक्त-आदि केसराणि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अन्तरम्: the inner space/interval
• अन्तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नील: blue
• नील: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: विशेषण; समासाङ्ग

• वर्णेन: with color
• वर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नीलवर्णेन: with blue color
• नीलवर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (नीलः वर्णः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दलानि: petals, leaves
• दलानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• असितेन: with black (color)
• असितेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे; तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (कृष्णवर्ण)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred visualization: precise color-imagery stabilizes attention and invites devotional presence.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā as a means to ekāgratā (one-pointedness), preparing the mind for deeper realization.

Application: When performing pūjā/meditation, visualize the lotus with disciplined color placement to reduce distraction and deepen reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual diagram/lotus (maṇḍala-padma)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.11-12 (mandala coloring and worship of Hari)

FAQs

What is the importance of lotus symbolism in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses precise color-details of a lotus (pericarp, stamens, interior, petals) to convey a structured, sacred order in cosmic description—an emblem of purity and layered reality.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; rather, it contributes to a cosmological/symbolic depiction that frames later teachings on dharma, karma, and post-death states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the verse as a reminder of inner order and purity: cultivate clarity in conduct (dharma) and disciplined attention to the ‘layers’ of one’s life—thought, speech, and action.