Shloka 11

Durgā Pūjā, 108-Nāma Japa, and Protective Homa in Preta-Kalpa Observance

Devanagari script

अष्टाविंशभुजा ध्येया अष्टादशभुजाथवा / द्वादशाष्टभुजा वापि ध्येया वापि चतुर्भुजा

Transliteration

aṣṭāviṃśabhujā dhyeyā aṣṭādaśabhujāthavā / dvādaśāṣṭabhujā vāpi dhyeyā vāpi caturbhujā

Translation

Debe ser contemplada en dhyāna como de veintiocho brazos, o de dieciocho; o también como de doce o de ocho; e incluso como de cuatro brazos: cualquiera de estas formas es digna de meditación.

Word by Word

• अष्टाविंशभुजा: having twenty-eight arms
• अष्टाविंशभुजा: Visheshya (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टा + विंशति + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः; (देवी/मूर्ति) विशेषणम्

• ध्येया: to be meditated upon
• ध्येया: Karya (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (कृदन्त; ध्यै धातोः -अनीय/यत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; ‘to be meditated upon’

• अष्टादशभुजा: having eighteen arms
• अष्टादशभुजा: Visheshya (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + दश + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ + वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or else)

• द्वादशाष्टभुजा: having twelve (or eight) arms
• द्वादशाष्टभुजा: Visheshya (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश + अष्ट + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः (12 or 8 arms, as a combined option)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक (also/even)

• ध्येया: to be meditated upon
• ध्येया: Karya (Obligation/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्येय (कृदन्त; ध्यै)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक (also)

• चतुर्भुजा: four-armed
• चतुर्भुजा: Visheshya (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upāsanā can adopt multiple sanctioned forms; the deity’s essence is approachable through diverse iconographies.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā as a support for concentration (ekāgratā); nāma-rūpa plurality pointing toward one underlying tattva.

Application: Choose a form that stabilizes attention; remain respectful toward other lineages’ depictions; use consistent visualization for a set period.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: inner-vision (dhyāna) / shrine icon-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.38.12-13 (weapon/attribute listing for the many-armed form)

FAQs

What is the importance of multi-armed forms in Garuda Purana meditation?

This verse permits multiple iconographic forms for contemplation, indicating that sincere dhyāna can be performed using different traditional visualizations rather than insisting on a single fixed form.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined meditation (dhyāna) as a means of inner purification and steadiness, which the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as supportive for dharma and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose a traditional form of the deity that your lineage/teacher prescribes (or that aids concentration), and practice consistent visualization during japa or puja without anxiety about “only one correct” depiction.