Shloka 79

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

आत्मानमेकतः कृत्वा ततः पूर्णां प्रदापयेत् / निष्कृष्य बहिराचार्यो दिक्पालानां बलिं हरेत्

Transliteration

ātmānamekataḥ kṛtvā tataḥ pūrṇāṃ pradāpayet / niṣkṛṣya bahirācāryo dikpālānāṃ baliṃ haret

Translation

Après avoir fait asseoir à l’écart la personne pour qui le rite est accompli, qu’on offre alors l’oblation complète. Puis, ayant retiré les offrandes et étant sorti, l’ācārya doit porter le bali, l’offrande, aux Dikpālas, Gardiens des Directions.

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: oneself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एकतः: to one side
• एकतः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकतस् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘on one side/aside’

• कृत्वा: having made/placed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having done/made’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (then/thereafter)

• पूर्णाम्: the pūrṇā (complete offering)
• पूर्णाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; (रूढिः) ‘पूर्णा’ = पूर्णाहुति/पूर्णपात्रादि (contextual)

• प्रदापयेत्: should cause (it) to be offered/given
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) ‘cause to be given/offer’

• निष्कृष्य: having taken out
• निष्कृष्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस् + कृश्/कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘having drawn out/removed’ (नि + कृष्)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• आचार्यः: the teacher/priest
• आचार्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• दिक्पालानाम्: of the guardians of the directions
• दिक्पालानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासः—दिक्पालाः (दिशां पालाः) तत्पुरुषः

• बलिम्: offering (bali)
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• हरेत्: should offer/bring (present)
• हरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual completion requires both central offering (pūrṇāhuti) and directional appeasement (dikpāla-bali) to harmonize the space.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta) mirrored in spatial discipline; outer harmonization supports inner steadiness.

Application: Conclude rites with proper closure steps: final offering, then protective/thanksgiving acts that ‘close the circle’ and restore balance to the environment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inside yajña-śālā then outside perimeter

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48.77-78 (lead-up to pūrṇāhuti and installations); Garuda Purana 1.48.80-81 (materials and directional recitations)

Characters & Entities

• Dikpālas (Guardians of the Directions)
• Ācārya (officiating priest)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering bali to the Dikpālas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the Dikpāla-bali as a required concluding/auxiliary offering in the rite, honoring the directional deities so the ritual space is harmonized and the procedure is completed without obstruction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

Indirectly, it emphasizes correct ritual sequencing under an ācārya; in Garuda Purana, such ordered rites are presented as supportive observances for the departed and for maintaining dharmic alignment during death-related ceremonies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing traditional rites, follow an authentic procedure under a qualified priest and complete all prescribed offerings (including directional bali) rather than doing partial observances.