Shloka 9

Gāyatrī-nyāsa, Pāda-bheda, and Purificatory Power in Sādhana

Devanagari script

श्वेतं विद्युत्प्रभं तारं कृष्णं रक्तं क्रमेण तत् / श्यामं शुक्लं तथा पीतं श्वेतं वै पद्मरागवत्

Transliteration

śvetaṃ vidyutprabhaṃ tāraṃ kṛṣṇaṃ raktaṃ krameṇa tat / śyāmaṃ śuklaṃ tathā pītaṃ śvetaṃ vai padmarāgavat

Translation

ຕາມລຳດັບ ປາກົດເປັນ: ສີຂາວ; ສະຫວ່າງດັ່ງຟ້າຜ່າ; ສະຫວ່າງດັ່ງດາວ; ສີດຳ; ແລະສີແດງ. ອີກຄັ້ງຫນຶ່ງ ກໍປາກົດເປັນ: ຟ້າເຂັ້ມ; ຂາວ; ເຫຼືອງ; ແລະຂາວ—ສ່ອງປະກາຍດັ່ງປັດມະຣາກ (ທັບທິມ).

Word by Word

• श्वेतम्: white
• श्वेतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• विद्युत्प्रभम्: having lightning-like radiance
• विद्युत्प्रभम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत् + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विद्युतः प्रभा यस्य/विद्युत्सदृशी प्रभा (determinative)

• तारम्: bright/clear
• तारम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कृष्णम्: black
• कृष्णम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• रक्तम्: red
• रक्तम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• क्रमेण: in order/ क्रमशः
• क्रमेण: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (adverbial instrumental)

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध/निर्देश (Deictic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; संदर्भसूचक

• श्यामम्: dark
• श्यामम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• शुक्लम्: white/bright
• शुक्लम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/also')

• पीतम्: yellow
• पीतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• श्वेतम्: white
• श्वेतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पद्मरागवत्: like a ruby (padmarāga)
• पद्मरागवत्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्मराग + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive/comparative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'पद्मराग इव'

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (narrating to Garuḍa, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ordered perception (krama) of mantra’s tejas through color and light metaphors (lightning, star, ruby).

Vedantic Theme: Refinement of antaḥkaraṇa via focused visualization; from gross color to subtle radiance (tejas) as a step toward inner quiet.

Application: Use the stated order as a guided visualization during recitation; note shifts in attention without distraction, returning to mantra.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner-vision field (mantra visualization)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.35.8–10 (continuation of color-forms)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What is the importance of these color-sequences in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse highlights ordered perceptible variations—colors and luminosities—used to describe subtle appearances in a structured way, indicating that such phenomena are not random but occur in a definite sequence.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey or subtle perception?

By emphasizing shifting radiance (white, lightning-like, star-bright, dark, red, etc.), the verse supports the Purāṇic theme that subtle realities can manifest with distinct visual qualities, which are understood through scriptural instruction rather than ordinary sense-certainty.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Maintain discernment: when encountering unusual experiences or ‘signs,’ interpret them with scriptural grounding, ethical discipline, and calm inquiry rather than fear or superstition.