Shloka 118

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

Devanagari script

गिरिजां वामभागे तु सौपर्णै चैव संनमेत् / प्रागिन्द्राय नमस्कुर्यात्सायुधाय तथैव च

Transliteration

girijāṃ vāmabhāge tu sauparṇai caiva saṃnamet / prāgindrāya namaskuryātsāyudhāya tathaiva ca

Translation

左側ではギリジャー（Girijā、パールヴァティー）に礼拝し、同様に、ああサウパルナ（Sauparṇa、ガルダ）よ、汝もまた帰敬せよ。東に面して、武具を伴うインドラにも同じく敬礼を捧げるべし。

Word by Word

• गिरिजाम्: Girijā
• गिरिजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• वामभागे: on the left side
• वामभागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वामः भागः); अधिकरण (locative)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• सौपर्णैः: with/through the Sauparṇas (Garudas)
• सौपर्णैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण (instrumental)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: also
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• संनमेत्: should bow down
• संनमेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग—सम्; ‘should bow down’

• प्राक्: in the east / eastward
• प्राक्: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्राक् (अव्यय)
• Form: दिक्/देशवाचक अव्यय (directional adverb)

• इन्द्राय: to Indra
• इन्द्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• नमस्कुर्यात्: should offer salutation
• नमस्कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should salute’

• सायुधाय: to the armed one
• सायुधाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (स-आयुधः = आयुधसहितः); विशेषण (qualifier) इन्द्रस्य; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक अव्यय (adverb)

• एव: also
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Sauparṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual nyāsa-like placement and dikpāla-vandana; honoring divine powers with their śakti/āyudha (weapons) as functional aspects of cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: One divine order manifests as multiple functional agencies; honoring āyudha signifies recognition of divine power (śakti) inseparable from the deity.

Application: In formal worship, include both deity and their empowering attributes (āyudha) in salutations; maintain consistent bodily orientation and sequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual body-space and directional quarter

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.117 (directional devīs); Garuda Purana 3.24.119 (āgneya/Agni and ‘sāyudha’ formula)

Characters & Entities

• Girijā (Pārvatī)
• Indra
• Garuda (Sauparṇa)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering namaskāra to Girijā and Indra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a ritual sequence of reverence—honoring Girijā and then offering east-facing salutations to Indra—showing that correct direction and proper acknowledgment of deities are part of dharmic worship order.

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

Indirectly, it supports the Purāṇic emphasis that disciplined ritual conduct (proper salutations, directions, and reverence) forms part of dharma that shapes one’s spiritual merit, which the text links to post-death outcomes elsewhere.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain intentionality in worship: follow a clear order, keep correct orientation (east-facing when prescribed), and cultivate respectful salutations—treating ritual as a discipline that reinforces dharmic living.