Shloka 99

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

Devanagari script

निष्क्रम्य बहिराचार्यो दिक्पालानां बलिं हरेत् / आचार्यः पुष्पहस्तस्तु क्षमस्वेति विसर्जयेत्

Transliteration

niṣkramya bahirācāryo dikpālānāṃ baliṃ haret / ācāryaḥ puṣpahastastu kṣamasveti visarjayet

Translation

Après être sorti, l’ācārya doit offrir le bali (oblations rituelles) aux dikpāla, gardiens des directions. Puis, tenant des fleurs en sa main, qu’il les congédie en disant : «Kṣamasva : sois favorable, accepte et retire-toi».

Word by Word

• निष्क्रम्य: having gone out
• निष्क्रम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्-क्रम् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having gone out’

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (Place/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• आचार्यः: the teacher/priest
• आचार्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• दिक्पालानाम्: of the guardians of the directions
• दिक्पालानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिशां पालाः)

• बलिम्: offering (bali)
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

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

• आचार्यः: the teacher/priest
• आचार्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• पुष्पहस्तः: having flowers in hand
• पुष्पहस्तः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular); तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: ‘पुष्पेण/पुष्पस्य हस्तः’ = ‘with flowers in hand’

• तु: indeed, then
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक (particle: but/indeed)

• क्षमस्व: forgive (you)
• क्षमस्व: Kriya (Speech act/वाक्कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (Imperative, 2nd person, Singular, Ātmanepada)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि- सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Propitiate and respectfully dismiss invoked powers; ritual closure includes apology/appeasement (kṣamā) and release (visarjana).

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta/dharma alignment: acknowledging cosmic guardians and maintaining harmony through humility.

Application: End ceremonies with gratitude and closure; apologize for mistakes; formally conclude agreements and invitations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: outside the mandapa / threshold space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (bali to dikpālas; visarjana formula)

Characters & Entities

• Dikpalas (guardians of the directions)

FAQs

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

This verse frames bali as a formal ritual duty to the directional guardians, acknowledging cosmic order and completing the rite with proper respect to the deities of space/directions.

How does this verse explain the correct conclusion of a ritual?

It prescribes a clear closing sequence: step outside, make the directional offering, then perform visarjana—politely dismissing the invoked beings with a request for kṣamā (grace/forgiveness).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing puja or homa, include a respectful closing: make any prescribed offerings and end with a brief kṣamā-prārthanā and visarjana to avoid leaving the ritual ‘open’.