Shloka 18

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

अधर्ंमाद्यं च वह्न्यादौ मध्ये पद्मस्य कर्णिके / वामाज्येष्ठा च पूर्वादौ रौद्री काली च पूर्षदः

Transliteration

adharṃmādyaṃ ca vahnyādau madhye padmasya karṇike / vāmājyeṣṭhā ca pūrvādau raudrī kālī ca pūrṣadaḥ

Translation

Comenzando por Adharma y Agni, dispuestos según sus direcciones respectivas, se los coloca dentro del loto—en su centro, en la karnikā, el pericarpio. Vāmā y Jyeṣṭhā se sitúan desde el inicio oriental; y del mismo modo Raudrī y Kālī, junto con Pūruṣada, se asignan a sus lugares.

Word by Word

• अधर्माद्यम्: Adharma and the rest
• अधर्माद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहारार्थ (beginning with Adharma etc.)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वह्न्यादौ: in/at Agni and the others (fire etc.)
• वह्न्यादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (वह्न्यादिषु = in Agni etc./in the fire-direction etc.)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पद्मस्य: of the lotus
• पद्मस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

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

• वामा: Vāmā (name)
• वामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्येष्ठा: Jyeṣṭhā (name)
• ज्येष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्येष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूर्वादौ: in the east etc.
• पूर्वादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पूर्वादिषु = in the east etc.)

• रौद्री: Raudrī (name)
• रौद्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौद्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• काली: Kālī (name)
• काली: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काली (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पूरषदः: Pūrṣadas (a class/name; uncertain)
• पूरषदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरषद्/पूरषद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (पाठानुसार); रूपं दुरूह/पाठभेदसम्भव

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Forces of order and disorder are not denied but ritually located and subordinated; the mandala integrates opposites to prevent psychic and ritual imbalance.

Vedantic Theme: Transcending dvandva by witnessing and containing; prakṛti’s guṇas and their fierce forms are placed under conscious regulation.

Application: In contemplative practice, acknowledge negative impulses (adharma) without suppression; ‘place’ them at the periphery under discipline, keeping the center (karnikā) clear and steady.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: inner mandala/lotus diagram

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.16–20 (āvaraṇa-devatā placement and mantra sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Adharma
• Agni (Vahni)
• Vāmā
• Jyeṣṭhā
• Raudrī
• Kālī
• Pūruṣada

FAQs

What is the importance of lotus (padma) placement in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse indicates a structured, directional placement of forces/deities within a lotus diagram, implying ritual order (nyāsa/maṇḍala) used to protect and regulate the rite.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and after-death practices?

While not describing the soul’s travel directly, it supports the ritual technology often associated with funerary and protective procedures—arranging powers in a lotus to safeguard transitions and remove obstacles.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain discipline and clarity in any sacred practice: follow an ordered method, keep ethical conduct (avoid adharma), and treat rituals as structured acts of remembrance and protection rather than improvisation.