Shloka 16

Navavyūha-pūjāvidhi: Bhūta-śuddhi, Nyāsa, Yogapīṭha, Maṇḍala-racanā, Mudrā-prayoga

Devanagari script

एभिः परिच्छन्नतनुं पीठभूतं तदात्मकम् / अनन्तं विन्सेत्पश्चात्पूर्वकायोन्नतं स्थितम्

Transliteration

ebhiḥ paricchannatanuṃ pīṭhabhūtaṃ tadātmakam / anantaṃ vinsetpaścātpūrvakāyonnataṃ sthitam

Translation

これらの要素により身が覆われると、具身の者は支えの座（ピータ／pīṭha）となり、その本性を自らのものとして帯びる。のちに、前の身体を超えて高く安住する無限者アナンタ（Ananta）を求めよ。

Word by Word

• ebhiḥ: by/with these
• ebhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; करणत्वे

• paricchanna-tanum: having a covered body; covered-bodied
• paricchanna-tanum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paricchanna (कृदन्त, √chad ‘to cover’) + tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग? (agreeing with implied object), द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘परिच्छन्ना तनुः यस्य/याम्’ used adjectivally; here as accusative qualifier

• pīṭha-bhūtam: become a pedestal/base
• pīṭha-bhūtam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त, √bhū)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूत (past participle) in tatpuruṣa: ‘pīṭhaṃ bhūtaṃ’ = become a pedestal/support

• tad-ātmakam: of that very nature
• tad-ātmakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तदात्मक’ = of that nature/consisting of that; qualifier

• anantam: endless, infinite
• anantam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifier

• vinyaset: should place/arrange
• vinyaset: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘should place/arrange’

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of sequence)

• pūrva-kāya-unnatam: raised in the front (portion of the body)
• pūrva-kāya-unnatam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक) + unnata (कृदन्त, ud+√nam ‘to raise’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘पूर्वकायेन उन्नतम्’ = raised in the front part; qualifier

• sthitam: standing/placed, situated
• sthitam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त, √sthā)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) used adjectivally

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Having assumed the nature of the placed constituents, the embodied basis is recognized; then one seeks the Ananta—abiding beyond and ‘above’ the prior bodily identification.

Vedantic Theme: Neti-neti movement from upādhi (body/constructed supports) toward the limitless; shift from deha-abhimāna to the unbounded ground of being.

Application: In meditation, acknowledge the body as support, then gently release identification and rest attention in the sense of the limitless (ananta) beyond form.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner yogic locus (body as pīṭha/ādhāra)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11.17-19 (lotus and mandala ascent elaborated)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Ananta (the Infinite/Brahman)

FAQs

What is the importance of realizing the Infinite (Ananta) in Garuda Purana?

This verse frames liberation as turning from identification with the body’s constituents to seeking the Infinite reality that stands beyond bodily limitation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It implies the soul becomes ‘covered’ by bodily factors and takes on their nature, but spiritual progress requires rising beyond that former bodily identity toward the abiding Infinite.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice dis-identification from body-based impulses through self-inquiry, ethical living, and remembrance of the higher Self—so awareness is anchored beyond transient physical conditions.