Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

देवस्य पीठस्योत्तरे रुद्रदेवमनैश्वर्याणामधिपं संस्मरेच्च / पीठस्य मध्ये प्रणमेद्वै वराहं सदा कन्ये परमं पूरुषाख्यम्

Transliteration

devasya pīṭhasyottare rudradevamanaiśvaryāṇāmadhipaṃ saṃsmarecca / pīṭhasya madhye praṇamedvai varāhaṃ sadā kanye paramaṃ pūruṣākhyam

Translation

ທາງທິດເໜືອຂອງປີຖະອັນສັກສິດຂອງພຣະເຈົ້າ ພຶງລະລຶກເຖິງ ຣຸດຣະເທວະ ຜູ້ເປັນອະທິປະຕິແຫ່ງສະພາວະບໍ່ເປັນເຈົ້າ (ອະໄນສະວະຣະຍະ). ກາງປີຖະນັ້ນ ໂອ ນາງພຣະທິດາ, ພຶງນະມັດສະການພຣະວະຣາຫະເທວະ ຜູ້ເປັນພຣະບຸຣຸສະສູງສຸດ ອັນຖືກຂານນາມວ່າ ປະຣະມະປຸຣຸສະ.

Word by Word

• देवस्य: of the god
• देवस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• पीठस्य: of the seat
• पीठस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: अधिकरण (स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (दिक्शब्द), सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• रुद्र-देवम्: Rudra (the god)
• रुद्र-देवम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; कर्मधारय (रुद्रः देवः)

• अनैश्वर्याणाम्: of non-prosperities/misfortunes
• अनैश्वर्याणाम्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनैश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; Genitive plural

• अधिपम्: the lord
• अधिपम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• संस्मरेत्: should remember/meditate on
• संस्मरेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• पीठस्य: of the seat
• पीठस्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (स्थान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Locative singular

• प्रणमेत्: should bow
• प्रणमेत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Parasmaipada

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• वराहम्: Varāha
• वराहम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• सदा: always
• सदा: कालाधिकरण (temporal adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb of time)

• कन्ये: O maiden (O Goddess)
• कन्ये: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular (agreeing with पूरुषाख्यम्)

• पूरुष-आख्यम्: named 'Puruṣa'
• पूरुष-आख्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of वराहम्; predicative epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular; तत्पुरुष (पूरुष इति आख्यं यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, with an address ‘O maiden’ retained from the source tradition)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Directional remembrance culminates in central surrender to the Supreme Person (Varaha) as the pitha’s heart.

Vedantic Theme: Paramapurusha as adhishthana (ground) of all powers; relative lordship and non-lordship are conditioned states under Ishvara’s sovereignty.

Application: In puja, after honoring directional deities, place primary attention on the central deity-form (here Varaha as Purushottama), reaffirming spiritual priorities over worldly status.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred seat/mandala orientation

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.87 (south/west); Garuda Purana 3.24.89-91 (upper tiers above the pitha)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Varaha
• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Rudra on the northern side of the pīṭha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns a directional placement for contemplation: Rudra is to be remembered to the north of the sacred seat, indicating an ordered ritual visualization where specific deities preside over specific domains.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined remembrance and devotion to the Supreme (Varāha as Parama Puruṣa). In Garuda Purana’s broader teaching, right worship and dharmic orientation support the soul’s auspicious journey and protection.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In daily pūjā or japa, keep a clear ritual focus: remember Rudra with reverence and bow inwardly to the Supreme Person (Varāha/Nārāyaṇa) at the center—cultivating humility, steadiness, and devotional discipline.