Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

वन्दनी हृदयासक्तात्सार्धं दक्षिणतोन्नता / ऊर्धाङ्गुण्ठो वाममुष्टिर्दक्षिणाङ्गुष्ठबन्धनः

Transliteration

vandanī hṛdayāsaktātsārdhaṃ dakṣiṇatonnatā / ūrdhāṅguṇṭho vāmamuṣṭirdakṣiṇāṅguṣṭhabandhanaḥ

Translation

En el gesto Vandanī (saludo reverente), las manos se mantienen cerca del corazón y se elevan levemente hacia la derecha; la mano izquierda se cierra en puño con el pulgar erguido, y el pulgar derecho queda sujeto/atado en su lugar.

Word by Word

• वन्दनी: Vandanī (a mudrā named 'salutation')
• वन्दनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्दनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; मुद्रानाम

• हृदयासक्तात्: from being attached to the heart (from the heart-contact position)
• हृदयासक्तात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृदय + आसक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (हृदये आसक्तः)

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahakaraka (Association/सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/preposition): 'सह/with'

• दक्षिणतः: to the right
• दक्षिणतः: Sambandha (Direction/दिशा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दक्षिणतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (directional adverb): 'to the right/rightwards'

• उन्नता: raised, lifted
• उन्नता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्नत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वन्दनी-मुद्रायाः)

• ऊर्ध्वाङ्गुष्ठः: with the thumb held upward
• ऊर्ध्वाङ्गुष्ठः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व + अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (ऊर्ध्वः अङ्गुष्ठः)

• वाममुष्टिः: left fist
• वाममुष्टिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (वामा मुष्टिः)

• दक्षिणाङ्गुष्ठबन्धनः: bound/fastened by the right thumb
• दक्षिणाङ्गुष्ठबन्धनः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण + अङ्गुष्ठ + बन्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (दक्षिणस्य अङ्गुष्ठस्य बन्धनम्/बन्धनः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied devotion: correct mudrā is not mere formality but a disciplined language of respect that trains attention and humility.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga in ritual: right action (proper form) purifies mind; body becomes an instrument of sādhana.

Application: Practice gestures slowly with breath; keep attention at the heart to prevent ritual from becoming mechanical.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_gesture_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11.27: mudrā-pradarśana introduction; 1.11.29: naming/variant clarification (uddha, etc.).

FAQs

What is the importance of the vandanā (salutation) gesture in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats vandanā as a precise act of āchāra—placing the hands near the heart and arranging the thumbs in a prescribed way—signaling inner reverence through disciplined outer form.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct conduct (ācāra) and reverential worship, it supports the dharmic foundation believed to aid one’s spiritual progress and auspicious outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When offering salutations in prayer or to elders/teachers, keep the gesture mindful—hands near the heart and posture composed—so respect is expressed as both intention and disciplined action.