Shloka 8

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

पूजाविधिं प्रवक्ष्यामि नन्मे निगदतः शृणु आदौ स्नात्वा तथाचम्य ततो यागगृहं व्रजेत्

Transliteration

pūjāvidhiṃ pravakṣyāmi nanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu ādau snātvā tathācamya tato yāgagṛhaṃ vrajet

Translation

Kini akan kujelaskan tata cara pemujaan—dengarkan ucapanku. Mula-mula mandi, lalu melakukan ācamana, kemudian pergilah ke yāga-gṛha, balai pemujaan.

Word by Word

• पूजाविधिम्: the procedure of worship
• पूजाविधिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (procedure of worship)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नत्: having bowed (humbly)
• नत्: Sambandha (Polite address/विनय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत् (कृदन्त; √नम् (धातु) + क्त/त? here past participial stem used as indeclinable-like)
• Form: अव्ययभावे/सम्बोधन-प्रयोगे; (reading nanme = नत् मे)

• मे: to me / my
• मे: Sambandha (to me/for me)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (enclitic)

• निगदतः: of (me) speaking/reciting
• निगदतः: Sambandha (Genitive absolute-like modifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √गद् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) from √गद्; षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (masc./neut.); 'of (me) who is speaking'

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (adverb: at first)

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• तथा: then/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (likewise/then)

• आचम्य: having sipped water (ācamana)
• आचम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √चम्/√चम (धातु; आचमन-क्रिया)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/क्रमवाचक (then/thereafter)

• यागगृहम्: the sacrificial hall
• यागगृहम्: Karma (Goal as object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याग + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (house/place of sacrifice)

• व्रजेत्: should go
• व्रजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative/Potential), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pūjā begins with śauca (purity): snāna and ācamana as prerequisites for sacred action.

Vedantic Theme: Outer purification supports inner sattva; disciplined preparation steadies mind for upāsanā.

Application: Before any worship/meditation: bathe (or wash hands/feet if needed), perform ācamana mindfully, then enter the worship space with collected attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: temple/ritual-hall

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.4-7 (mantra-nyāsa components used within pūjā)

FAQs

What is the importance of bathing and ācamana in the Garuda Purana’s worship procedure?

This verse places snāna (bathing) and ācamana as the first acts of purification, establishing physical and ritual cleanliness before entering the yāga-gṛha for pūjā.

How does this verse explain the correct beginning of a puja?

It gives a clear sequence: first bathe, then perform ācamana, and only then proceed to the worship space—showing that readiness and purity precede offerings and mantra.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before daily prayer, adopt a brief purity routine: wash/bathe as possible, do ācamana (or mindful sips with a purification intention), and begin worship in a clean, dedicated space.