Shloka 21

Navavyūha-pūjāvidhi: Bhūta-śuddhi, Nyāsa, Yogapīṭha, Maṇḍala-racanā, Mudrā-prayoga

Devanagari script

हृदयादीनि पूर्वादिचतुर्दिग्दलयोगतः / मध्ये नेत्रं तु कोणेषु अस्त्रमन्त्रं न्यसेत्ततः

Transliteration

hṛdayādīni pūrvādicaturdigdalayogataḥ / madhye netraṃ tu koṇeṣu astramantraṃ nyasettataḥ

Translation

Con la disposición de cuatro pétalos en las direcciones cardinales comenzando por el oriente, colóquense los mantras empezando por el del Corazón (hṛdaya) en las cuatro direcciones; luego colóquese el del Ojo (netra) en el centro; y después el mantra del Arma (astra) en las esquinas.

Word by Word

• हृदयादीनि: (the mantras) beginning with ‘hṛdaya’
• हृदयादीनि: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; आदि-तत्पुरुष (hṛdaya-ādi-śabdāḥ)

• पूर्वादि: beginning with the east
• पूर्वादि: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्राय प्रयोग; समासपूर्वपद (qualifier within compound); ‘east etc.’ sense

• चतुर्: four
• चतुर्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; समासपूर्वपद (in compound)

• दिक्: directions
• दिक्: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• दल: petals/segments
• दल: Samasa-anga (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासाङ्ग (in compound)

• योगतः: according to the arrangement
• योगतः: Hetu (Cause/ground)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; हेतुवाचक (ablative of cause: ‘by/according to the arrangement’)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणार्थे (locative used adverbially: ‘in the middle’)

• नेत्रम्: the ‘netra’ (eye) (mantra/placement)
• नेत्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha-bodhaka (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

• कोणेषु: in the corners
• कोणेषु: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अस्त्रमन्त्रम्: the weapon-mantra
• अस्त्रमन्त्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (astra-sya mantraḥ)

• न्यसेत्: should place/install
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि+अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक (adverb: ‘then/thereafter’)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual order mirrors inner order: center (netra) as awakened perception; corners sealed by astra as guarding the mind-field.

Vedantic Theme: Antahkarana-shuddhi through disciplined upasana; the ‘center’ symbolizes the witnessing awareness stabilized in devotion.

Application: In puja/nyasa, proceed systematically: establish core mantras in directions, place netra at center for clarity, then astra for protective closure (psychological and ritual containment).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11 (nyasa and dik-vinyasa sequence continuing through 1.11.22-24)

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa (mantra placement) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows nyāsa as a structured protective and sanctifying practice: specific mantras are assigned to directions, center, and corners to establish ritual order and spiritual shielding.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it gives a ritual-technical method (nyāsa) used to purify and protect the practitioner, which supports dharmic practice emphasized throughout the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the principle of disciplined, directional focus in spiritual practice—maintaining a clear, protective structure (center and boundaries) in prayer, meditation, or ritual observance.