Shloka 95

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वादिगं पीठसोपानरूपमात्मानमेकं प्रणमेच्च देवि / दक्षस्थदिक्पीठसोपानरूपं ज्ञानात्मकं प्रणमेच्चैव कन्ये

Transliteration

pūrvādigaṃ pīṭhasopānarūpamātmānamekaṃ praṇamecca devi / dakṣasthadikpīṭhasopānarūpaṃ jñānātmakaṃ praṇameccaiva kanye

Translation

ឱ ព្រះនាងទេវី សូមបង្គំព្រះអាត្មា​តែមួយ ដែលមានរូបជាទិសខាងកើត ជាពិឋៈ និងជាជំហានឡើង។ ឱ កញ្ញា សូមបង្គំព្រះសារធាតុជាចំណេះដឹង ដែលមានរូបជាទិសខាងត្បូង ជាពិឋៈ និងជាជំហានឡើងដូចគ្នា។

Word by Word

• pūrva-ādi-gam: (the one) of the eastern direction
• pūrva-ādi-gam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + ga (गम् धातु-प्रातिपदिक/ग-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: पूर्वादिगम् = 'going/pertaining to the eastern direction etc.' (directional epithet)

• pīṭha-sopāna-rūpam: in the form of the pedestal-steps
• pīṭha-sopāna-rūpam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + sopāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: पीठसोपानरूपम् = 'in the form of the pedestal-steps'

• ātmānam: the Self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ekam: one, single
• ekam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with ātmānam)

• praṇamet: let (one) bow
• praṇamet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• devi: O देवी
• devi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• dakṣa-stha-dik-pīṭha-sopāna-rūpam: in the form of the pedestal-steps of the southern/right direction
• dakṣa-stha-dik-pīṭha-sopāna-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (स्थ धातु-प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + dik (दिश् प्रातिपदिक) + pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + sopāna (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: दक्षस्थदिक्-पीठसोपानरूपम् = 'in the form of the pedestal-steps of the direction situated to the south/right'

• jñāna-ātmakam: of the nature of knowledge
• jñāna-ātmakam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (आत्मक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ज्ञानात्मकम् = 'of the nature of knowledge'

• praṇamet: let (one) bow
• praṇamet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (नम् धातु)
• Form: लोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• eva: indeed
• eva: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय

• kanye: O maiden
• kanye: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra; verse itself addresses the Goddess as a liturgical instruction)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The One Self (ātman) is the true object of reverence; knowledge (jñāna) is the ascending step toward realization.

Vedantic Theme: Ātmaikatva (oneness of Self) and jñāna as sādhana; external directions mirror internal stages of awakening.

Application: Use a simple daily practice: face east for recollection of the Self; face south to reaffirm commitment to study, discernment, and ethical clarity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: directional-ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.92-96 (directional/lotus nyāsa sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Devi

FAQs

What is the importance of saluting the directions (dik-vandana) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the directions as sacred “seats and steps” of realization, making pranama a contemplative act—honoring the One Self and Knowledge as present in cosmic orientation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul or ascent?

By calling the directions “steps” (sopāna), the verse suggests spiritual ascent is gradual and structured, culminating in recognition of the one Ātman and the jñāna-essence beyond mere ritual.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin worship, meditation, or daily prayer with mindful salutations—remembering the aim is inner knowledge (jñāna) and Self-recognition, not only external procedure.