Shloka 4

The Procedure of Worship (Śrīdharapūjā-vidhi)

Devanagari script

ततस्तं पूजयेद्देवं मण्डले स्वस्तिकादिके / आसनं पूजयेदादौ देवदेवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः / एबिर्मन्त्रैर्महादेव तान्मत्राञ्छृणु शङ्कर

Transliteration

tatastaṃ pūjayeddevaṃ maṇḍale svastikādike / āsanaṃ pūjayedādau devadevasya śārṅgiṇaḥ / ebirmantrairmahādeva tānmatrāñchṛṇu śaṅkara

Translation

ຈາກນັ້ນ ພຶງບູຊາພຣະອົງນັ້ນ ໃນມັນດະລາທີ່ຖືກຊຳລະ ມີເຄື່ອງໝາຍມົງຄຸນເຊັ່ນ ສະວັສຕິກະ. ກ່ອນອື່ນ ພຶງບູຊາອາສນະຂອງ ສາຣັງກິນະ—ພຣະວິສນຸ ພຣະເຈົ້າແຫ່ງເທວະ ຜູ້ຖືຄັນທະນູສາຣັງກະ. ໂອ ມະຫາເທວະ, ໂອ ສັງກະຣະ, ຈົ່ງຟັງມັນຕຣາເຫຼົ່ານັ້ນເພື່ອການບູຊານີ້.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध-क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; अर्थः ‘ततः/अनन्तरम्’

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार देवम्), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ) परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: पूज् = to worship

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• maṇḍale: in the ritual diagram/circle
• maṇḍale: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• svastikādike: (in a maṇḍala) with svastika etc.
• svastikādike: Adhikarana (Qualifier of location/अधिकरण-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svastika + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः ‘स्वस्तिक-आदि’ = svastika and the like; विशेषणम् (maṇḍale)

• āsanam: the seat (āsana)
• āsanam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (आज्ञार्थ/विध्यर्थ) परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ādau: at first
• ādau: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण) = indeclinable adverb; ‘प्रथमम्’

• devadevasya: of the God of gods
• devadevasya: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘देवानां देवः’

• śārṅgiṇaḥ: of Śārṅgin (Viṣṇu)
• śārṅgiṇaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārṅgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विष्णोः उपनाम (धनुषः ‘शार्ङ्ग’ धारकः)

• ebhiḥ: with these
• ebhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• mantraiḥ: by mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• mahādeva: O Mahādeva
• mahādeva: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् देवः’

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (मन्त्रान् सूचयति)

• mantrān: mantras
• mantrān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• śṛṇu: hear
• śṛṇu: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: श्रु = to hear

• śaṅkara: O Śaṅkara
• śaṅkara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative instruction style; addressed to Shiva as 'Mahadeva/Shankara' within the verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Approach to the Supreme through orderly upacāra—beginning with āsana-pūjā in an auspicious maṇḍala—so the deity is welcomed and stabilized in worship.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-brahma upāsanā: the formless is approached through form, name, and rite; purity of means supports purity of mind (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Create a clean worship space; draw/prepare a simple maṇḍala with auspicious marks; begin pūjā by honoring the seat and the deity’s presence before other offerings; recite mantras with attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (maṇḍala/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.30.5-1.30.8 (āsana-devatā āvāhana; nyāsa-like salutations; Hari-āvāhana; sin-destroying mantras)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Śārṅgiṇa)
• Shiva (Mahādeva, Śaṅkara)
• Svastika
• Maṇḍala

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Vishnu in a mandala with a svastika in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames the puja as beginning with a consecrated ritual space (maṇḍala) marked by auspicious symbols like the svastika, indicating order, sanctity, and invocatory auspiciousness before mantra-recitation.

How does this verse explain the correct sequence of worship (pūjā-krama)?

It specifies that one should first worship the deity’s seat (āsana) and then proceed with worship using the prescribed mantras—highlighting a formal step-by-step ritual structure.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any devotional practice with a clean, intentional space and a clear sequence—prepare the seat/place of worship, then recite mantras with attention and reverence rather than rushing into rituals.