Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

कृष्णवर्णेन रजसा चतुरश्रं प्रपूरयेत् / द्वाराणि शुक्लवर्णेन रेखाः पञ्च च मण्डले

Transliteration

kṛṣṇavarṇena rajasā caturaśraṃ prapūrayet / dvārāṇi śuklavarṇena rekhāḥ pañca ca maṇḍale

Translation

With black-colored powder, one should fill in a four-sided (square) figure; and in the maṇḍala, the doorways and the five lines should be drawn in white.

Word by Word

• कृष्ण: black
• कृष्ण: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: विशेषण; समासाङ्ग

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

• कृष्णवर्णेन: with black color
• कृष्णवर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (कृष्णः वर्णः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रजसा: with dust/powder
• रजसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुरश्रम्: the square (figure)
• चतुरश्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रपूरयेत्: should fill completely
• प्रपूरयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूर् (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्वाराणि: doors/gateways
• द्वाराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

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

• शुक्लवर्णेन: with white color
• शुक्लवर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (शुक्लः वर्णः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रेखाः: lines
• रेखाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; अव्ययवत् (indeclinable numeral)

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

• मण्डले: in the circle/diagram
• मण्डले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yantra/maṇḍala discipline: structured geometry and color-contrast to hold the mind for worship.

Vedantic Theme: From tamas (black/grounding) to sattva (white/clarity) as a symbolic inner refinement.

Application: Create a clean, bounded worship area; use clear markings (lines/doors) to maintain ritual attention and sequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: maṇḍala space (square/caturasra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.9-13 (layout, colors, nyāsa, Hari-pūjā)

FAQs

What is the importance of a maṇḍala in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the maṇḍala as a precise ritual instrument—its colors and geometry are prescribed, indicating that correct formation is part of proper observance (vidhi) for the rite.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it gives procedural guidance for a ritual setup, which in the broader Garuda Purana context supports dharmic rites associated with protection, purification, and correct performance of ceremonies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Follow clarity and precision in any sacred or ethical practice—if performing traditional rites, adhere to the prescribed method; otherwise, apply the principle of disciplined preparation before important duties.