Shloka 6

Vināyaka-pīḍā: Omens, Purification, Crossroads Offerings, and Ambikā Svastyayana

Devanagari script

चर्मण्यानुडुहे रक्ते स्थाप्यं भद्रासने तथा / सहस्राक्षं शतधारमृषिभिः पावनं स्मृतम्

Transliteration

carmaṇyānuḍuhe rakte sthāpyaṃ bhadrāsane tathā / sahasrākṣaṃ śatadhāramṛṣibhiḥ pāvanaṃ smṛtam

Translation

രക്തം പതിഞ്ഞ ചർമത്തിന്മേൽ അത് സ്ഥാപിച്ച് ഭദ്രാസനത്തിൽ വെക്കണം; ‘സഹസ്രാക്ഷ’യും ‘ശതധാര’യും ഋഷിമാർ പാവനമെന്ന് സ്മരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്।

Word by Word

• चर्मणि: on a hide/skin
• चर्मणि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (Neuter, Locative singular)

• अनुडुहे: of a bull (ox-hide)
• अनुडुहे: Adhikarana (Location-qualifier/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुडुह् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (Locative singular; adjective qualifying चर्मणि)

• रक्ते: red
• रक्ते: Adhikarana (Location-qualifier/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषण (Locative singular; adjective)

• स्थाप्यम्: should be placed
• स्थाप्यम्: Kriya (Injunctive action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थाप्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (gerundive: 'is to be placed')

• भद्रासने: on a bhadrāsana seat
• भद्रासने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (Neuter, Locative singular)

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Prakara (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक अव्यय (adverb)

• सहस्राक्षम्: the thousand-eyed (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular; epithet)

• शतधारम्: having a hundred streams/flows
• शतधारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative singular)

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Kartr (Agent in passive/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental plural)

• पावनम्: purifying
• पावनम्: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Nominative singular; predicate adjective)

• स्मृतम्: is considered/said
• स्मृतम्: Kriya (Passive predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय (PPP used as passive predicate: 'is said/considered')

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification can involve potent, rule-bound ritual media and mantra-epithets validated by ṛṣi tradition; efficacy rests on sanctioned remembrance and correct placement.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda-pramāṇa (scriptural authority) guiding action; transformation of fear/impurity into order through sanctioned rite.

Application: In high-stakes rites, rely on authenticated tradition and competent guidance; do not improvise with powerful symbols without understanding context.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual seat/altar space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.100 (continuation of kalaśa/āsana/śuddhi procedure; immediate context)

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Sahasraksha)
• Rishis

FAQs

What is the importance of purification (pāvana) in Garuda Purana death rituals?

This verse emphasizes that specific ritual arrangements and invoked purifiers are meant to cleanse ritual impurity and make the rite fit for sacred transition-related actions.

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

By stressing ritual purity and correct procedure, it supports the broader Garuda Purana framework where proper rites aid the departed’s orderly passage and reduce obstacles in the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain sanctity and correctness in rites (or any sacred observance): clean setup, disciplined procedure, and reverence for purifying principles—symbolically, prioritize purity of action and intention.