Shloka 8

Navavyūha-pūjāvidhi: Bhūta-śuddhi, Nyāsa, Yogapīṭha, Maṇḍala-racanā, Mudrā-prayoga

Devanagari script

बाह्वोश्च करयोर्जान्वोः पादयोश्चापि विन्यसेत् / पद्माकारौ करौ कृत्वा मध्ये ऽङ्गुष्ठं निवेशयेत्

Transliteration

bāhvośca karayorjānvoḥ pādayoścāpi vinyaset / padmākārau karau kṛtvā madhye 'ṅguṣṭhaṃ niveśayet

Translation

ബാഹുക്കളിലും കൈകളിലും മുട്ടുകളിലും പാദങ്ങളിലും കൂടി വിന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം. രണ്ടു കൈകളും പദ്മാകാരമാക്കി, മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ അങ്കുഷ്ഠങ്ങളെ സ്ഥാപിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• बाह्वोः: of the two arms
• बाह्वोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• करयोः: of the two hands
• करयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• जान्वोः: of the two knees
• जान्वोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• पादयोः: of the two feet
• पादयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अवधारण (also)

• विन्यसेत्: should place/arrange
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-√अस्/न्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पद्माकारौ: lotus-shaped
• पद्माकारौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म-आकार (प्रातिपदिक; पद्म + आकार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (करौ)

• करौ: the two hands
• करौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• कृत्वा: having made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय; ‘having made’

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अङ्गुष्ठम्: the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निवेशयेत्: should insert/place
• निवेशयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense: ‘to cause to enter/place’)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mudrā and nyāsa integrate body and mantra, expressing inner purity (padma) and centeredness (thumbs in the middle).

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā as citta-ekāgratā training; symbolic lotus indicates detachment amid action (karma-yoga resonance).

Application: Place mantra-energy on arms, hands, knees, feet; then form padmākāra with both hands and set thumbs centrally while maintaining dhyāna.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: limb-points and hand-mudrā as ritual topography

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11.7 (aṅga-nyāsa points); Garuda Purana 1.11.9 (dhyāna on the supreme and finger placements)

FAQs

What is the importance of padmākāra (lotus-shaped) hands in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the lotus-shaped formation of the hands as a precise ritual/disciplinary gesture (mudrā-like arrangement), emphasizing bodily order and symbolic purity associated with the lotus.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it focuses on correct bodily arrangement and disciplined practice, which the Garuda Purana frequently frames as supportive of purification and right conduct—foundational for auspicious outcomes beyond death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that spiritual practice is strengthened by careful posture and intentional hand placement—approach rituals, meditation, and prayer with precision rather than haste.