Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणं सर्वगात्रेषु करयोः श्रीधरं तथा / अहं विष्णुरिति ध्यात्वा कर्णिकायां न्यसेद्धरिम्

Transliteration

brahmāṇaṃ sarvagātreṣu karayoḥ śrīdharaṃ tathā / ahaṃ viṣṇuriti dhyātvā karṇikāyāṃ nyaseddharim

Translation

Meditating, “I am Viṣṇu,” one should place Brahmā in all the limbs, Śrīdhara in the hands, and then install Hari in the heart-lotus, at its pericarp (karnikā).

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā (as object to be placed/meditated)
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• सर्वगात्रेषु: in all limbs
• सर्वगात्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि गात्राणि)

• करयोः: of the two hands
• करयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• श्रीधरम्: Śrīdhara
• श्रीधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/also')

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus; ‘…’ (quoting)
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘having meditated’

• कर्णिकायाम्: in the pericarp (of the lotus)
• कर्णिकायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे—‘should place’

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devatā-nyāsa and identity-contemplation (ahaṃ viṣṇuḥ) purify the embodied self and stabilize Viṣṇu-consciousness in the heart.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-bhāva and sādhaka’s movement from dehābhimāna to īśvara-smṛti; qualified non-dual contemplation within bhakti-ritual frame.

Application: Perform kara/anga-nyāsa with mantra-japa; conclude by meditating on Hari seated in the heart-lotus, maintaining calm breath and steady attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner/ritual body-mandala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.15-16 (dik-nyāsa and worship leading to paramam padam); Garuda Purana 1.9.1 (mūla-mantra homa as complementary rite)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śrīdhara
• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents nyāsa as a disciplined reminder that the body and senses are to be sanctified by installing divine presence—culminating in placing Hari in the heart-lotus.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing inward installation of Hari and identity-through-meditation (“I am Vishnu”), it points to purification of the subtle orientation of the mind—supporting liberation-focused awareness rather than outward distraction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use a brief daily practice: mentally dedicate the limbs to sacred purpose, steady the hands for righteous action, and rest attention in the heart with remembrance of Vishnu before beginning any ritual or duty.