Shloka 113

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

चतुर्थावरणे पूर्वे महाकूर्माय वै नमः / वराहाय नमस्कुर्यादाग्नेये कन्यके शुभे

Transliteration

caturthāvaraṇe pūrve mahākūrmāya vai namaḥ / varāhāya namaskuryādāgneye kanyake śubhe

Translation

ચોથા આવરણમાં, પૂર્વ દિશામાં મહાકૂર્મને નમસ્કાર. હે શુભ કન્યે, આગ્નેય (દક્ષિણ-પૂર્વ) દિશામાં વરાહને નમસ્કાર કરવો।

Word by Word

• चतुर्थावरणे: in the fourth enclosure/covering
• चतुर्थावरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थ + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; समास: चतुर्थ + आवरण (तत्पुरुष: ‘चतुर्थम् आवरणम्’)

• पूर्वे: in the east
• पूर्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; दिशि (in the east)

• महाकूर्माय: to Mahākūrma (Great Tortoise)
• महाकूर्माय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular; समास: महा + कूर्म (कर्मधारय: ‘महान् कूर्मः’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् अव्यय-प्रयोगः; salutation formula

• वराहाय: to Varāha
• वराहाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• नमस्कुर्यात्: should bow/salute
• नमस्कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• आग्नेये: in the south-east
• आग्नेये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; दिशि (in the south-east / Agni corner)

• कन्यके: O maiden
• कन्यके: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• शुभे: O auspicious (one)
• शुभे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular; विशेषणम् (of कन्यके)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sequential homage to avatāras as cosmic functions: Kūrma as support/stability; Varāha as restoration of dharma and earth.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s līlā as cosmic maintenance (sthiti) and restoration; the One appearing as many for loka-saṅgraha.

Application: Contemplate stability (Kūrma) and upliftment from decline (Varāha) during worship; align intentions with steadiness and dharma-restoration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/mandala enclosure points (āvaraṇa + dik)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24 (āvaraṇa-krama and dik-krama of Viṣṇu forms)

Characters & Entities

• Mahakurma
• Varaha
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahākūrma and Varāha worship in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse prescribes specific salutations to Vishnu’s forms—Mahākūrma and Varāha—linking devotion with a structured ritual layout (enclosures and directions) used in traditional worship.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

It functions as an instruction for directional/sectional worship (āvaraṇa-wise), indicating where in a sacred arrangement one should offer namaskāra to particular deities or avatāras.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing Vishnu-puja or temple circumambulation, one can remember and honor Vishnu’s sustaining (Kūrma) and rescuing (Varāha) aspects with mindful salutations aligned to a disciplined ritual order.