Shloka 10

Dīkṣā Procedure: Homa Measures, Elemental Reconstitution, and Naming by Omen

Devanagari script

तं हस्तं पातयेन्मूर्ध्नि शिष्यस्य तु समाहितः / हस्ते विष्णुः स्थितो यस्माद्विष्णुहस्तस्ततस्त्वयम् / नश्यन्ति स्पर्शनात्तस्य पातकान्यखिलानि च

Transliteration

taṃ hastaṃ pātayenmūrdhni śiṣyasya tu samāhitaḥ / haste viṣṇuḥ sthito yasmādviṣṇuhastastatastvayam / naśyanti sparśanāttasya pātakānyakhilāni ca

Translation

With focused mind, he should place that hand upon the disciple’s head. Because Viṣṇu abides in the hand, it is therefore called the “hand of Viṣṇu”; and by its very touch, all sins without exception are destroyed.

Word by Word

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — that (him/it)

• हस्तम्: hand
• हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — hand

• पातयेत्: should place (down)
• पातयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्/पातय् (धातु; णिच् causative of पत्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — should place/let fall

• मूर्ध्नि: on (the) head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — on the head

• शिष्यस्य: of the disciple
• शिष्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — of the disciple

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः — but/indeed

• समाहितः: composed
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — composed/attentive

• हस्ते: in the hand
• हस्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — in the hand

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Vishnu

• स्थितः: is present
• स्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया-विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — is situated/stands

• यस्मात्: because
• यस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन — because/from which

• विष्णु-हस्तः: Vishnu-hand
• विष्णु-हस्तः: Karta/Predicative (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः हस्तः) — Vishnu’s hand

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Hetu/Anvaya (हेतु/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्ययम् — therefore/from that

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः — indeed

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta/Predicative (कर्ता/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — this

• नश्यन्ति: are destroyed
• नश्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम् — perish/are destroyed

• स्पर्शनात्: by (its) touch
• स्पर्शनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्पर्शन (प्रातिपदिक; स्पृश् धातोः ल्युट्/घञ्-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन — from/by touch (ablative of cause)

• तस्य: of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — of that/of it

• पातकानि: sins
• पातकानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — sins

• अखिलानि: all
• अखिलानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन — all/entire

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपातः — and

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sacred contact empowered by Viṣṇu-bhāva destroys pāpa; grace can interrupt karmic burden when aligned with dharma and devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Anugraha (divine grace) mediated through guru and upāsanā; pāpa-kṣaya through īśvara-sambandha.

Application: Cultivate purity of intention in blessings/initiations; treat ritual touch as responsibility—paired with ethical living and remembrance of Viṣṇu.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/initiatory space (dīkṣā-like)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.9.8-9 (hand-lotus worship); Garuda Purana 1.9.11 (guru-led rite with flower indication)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shishya (disciple)

FAQs

What is the importance of Vishnu-hasta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that the teacher’s consecrated hand is regarded as “Vishnu’s hand,” and its touch—performed with concentration—functions as a powerful act of purification that destroys sins.

How does this verse explain purification or inner cleansing?

Purification is presented as both spiritual and ritual: the act must be done with samāhita (focused composure), and the sanctity is grounded in the doctrine that Viṣṇu is present in the sacred act (here, in the hand).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach blessings, initiations, and religious acts with mental steadiness and reverence, emphasizing ethical reform alongside rituals meant for purification.