Shloka 6

Devanagari script

अन्तरा स द्विजश्रेष्ठः पादोनं भ्रामयेद्धर ! / अनेन नाभिसूत्रस्य कर्णिकां भ्रामयेच्छिव !

Transliteration

antarā sa dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ pādonaṃ bhrāmayeddhara ! / anena nābhisūtrasya karṇikāṃ bhrāmayecchiva !

Translation

O Dhara, in the intermediate space the best of the twice-born—the officiating brāhmaṇa—should rotate it by a measure less than a foot. By this, O Śiva, he should rotate the central karṇikā of the navel-cord.

Word by Word

• अन्तरा: in between
• अन्तरा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/कालवाचक (in between/within)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• द्विज-श्रेष्ठः: best of the twice-born
• द्विज-श्रेष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (द्विजानां श्रेष्ठः)

• पाद-ऊनम्: a quarter less
• पाद-ऊनम्: Karma (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (पादेन ऊनम् = a quarter less)

• भ्रामयेत्: should cause to rotate
• भ्रामयेत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) [णिच्: भ्रामय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्

• धर: O bearer (epithet)
• धर: Sambodhana (Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नाभि-सूत्रस्य: of the navel-thread
• नाभि-सूत्रस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नाभेः सूत्रम्)

• कर्णिकाम्: the pericarp/central disk
• कर्णिकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• भ्रामयेत्: should cause to rotate
• भ्रामयेत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) [णिच्: भ्रामय-]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्

• शिव: O Śiva
• शिव: Sambodhana (Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa; ritual/technical injunction style)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right measure (pramāṇa) and qualified agency (dvija-śreṣṭha) ensure efficacy; precision is itself a form of ritual purity.

Vedantic Theme: Adhikāra (fitness/qualification) and niyama (discipline) as supports for higher aims; form serving inner concentration.

Application: Assign the task to a trained officiant; rotate the thread slightly less than a foot’s measure in the intermediate space to correctly generate the central hub geometry.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: consecrated diagram-space (antarāla and central karnikā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.5 (thread winding); Garuda Purana 1.8.7 (karnikā division for stamens)

Characters & Entities

• Dhara
• Śiva
• Dvija (Brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of nābhi-sūtra and karṇikā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats nābhi-sūtra (navel-cord/central thread) and its karṇikā (hub-like center) as technical ritual components, indicating that precise handling and measured motion are part of the prescribed procedure.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is primarily a procedural injunction (vidhi) about a measured ritual action, rather than a direct description of the soul’s journey; it reflects the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s emphasis on exact rites as supportive of dharma and post-death observances in broader context.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any traditional rite, follow an authentic lineage/instructor and maintain precision in steps and measurements; the verse underscores discipline and correctness (ācāra) rather than improvisation.