Shloka 30

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठादिप्रमोकेण अष्टौ मुद्रा यथाक्रमम् / अष्टानां पूर्वबीजानां क्रमशस्त्ववधारयेत्

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhādipramokeṇa aṣṭau mudrā yathākramam / aṣṭānāṃ pūrvabījānāṃ kramaśastvavadhārayet

Translation

കനി‍ഷ്ഠിക (ചെറുവിരൽ) വിടുതൽ മുതൽ ആരംഭിച്ച് ക്രമമായി എട്ട് മുദ്രകൾ അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം; മുൻപ് പറഞ്ഞ എട്ട് ബീജാക്ഷരങ്ങളും ക്രമത്തിൽ സൂക്ഷ്മമായി ധാരണം ചെയ്യണം।

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठादि-प्रमोकेण: by the method of releasing (starting) from the little finger etc.
• कनिष्ठादि-प्रमोकेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा + आदि + प्रमोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः—कनिष्ठादि (कनिष्ठा-आदि) इति तत्पुरुषः, तेन सह प्रमोक-शब्दः; अर्थतः ‘कनिष्ठादि-प्रमोकेन’ = ‘कनिष्ठादि-उन्मोचन-प्रकारेण’

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• मुद्राः: mudrās (hand-gestures)
• मुद्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• यथा-क्रमम्: in due order
• यथा-क्रमम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययत्वेन प्रयोगः; अर्थः ‘क्रमानुसारम्’

• अष्टानाम्: of the eight
• अष्टानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; ‘अष्ट’ संख्याशब्दस्य षष्ठी बहुवचनम्

• पूर्व-बीजानाम्: of the preceding seed-syllables
• पूर्व-बीजानाम्: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; समासः—पूर्वबीज (पूर्वाणि बीजानि) इति तत्पुरुषः

• क्रमशः: successively
• क्रमशः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रमशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम्

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• अवधारयेत्: should ascertain/should determine
• अवधारयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातुः—धृ (धारणे) उपसर्गः अव-

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upāsanā requires krama (sequence) and dhāraṇā (retentive attention) of bīja-mantras alongside mudrā-kriyā.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through disciplined worship; body-mind as instruments for īśvara-upāsanā.

Application: Practice the mudrās in a fixed order while mentally holding the corresponding bījas; use slow, counted repetition to avoid breaking sequence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual/inner-space (adhyatmika)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11 (preceding verses listing the eight bījas); Garuda Purana 1.11 (mudrā-krama instructions continuing through lokapāla-mudrās)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of mudrās and bīja mantras in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes correct sequence and mental retention—mudrās (hand-seals) and bīja syllables are treated as precise ritual technologies that must be performed in order for the intended spiritual effect.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it frames liberation-oriented practice as disciplined ritual and mantra control, implying that inner steadiness and correct method support purification and progress toward auspicious states.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If practicing mantra-japa or pūjā, keep a clear sequence (steps, gestures, recitation order) and maintain focused remembrance of the mantra sounds rather than performing mechanically.