Shloka 16

Bhīma-Dvādaśī (Ekādaśī) Māhātmya and Varāha-Pūjā Vidhi

Devanagari script

बाहुं सहस्रशिरसे ग्रीवां सर्वेश्वराय च / मुखं सर्वात्मने पूज्यं ललाटं प्रभवाय च

Transliteration

bāhuṃ sahasraśirase grīvāṃ sarveśvarāya ca / mukhaṃ sarvātmane pūjyaṃ lalāṭaṃ prabhavāya ca

Translation

സഹസ്രശിരസ്സിനോട് ഭുജങ്ങൾ അർപ്പിക്കണം; സർവേശ്വരനോട് ഗ്രീവ. പൂജ്യനായ സർവാത്മനോട് മുഖം; പ്രഭവനോട് ലലാടം അർപ്പിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• बाहुम्: arm
• बाहुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सहस्रशिरसे: to the thousand-headed one
• सहस्रशिरसे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (possessive: ‘whose heads are a thousand’), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ग्रीवाम्: neck
• ग्रीवाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रीवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वेश्वराय: to the Lord of all
• सर्वेश्वराय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वात्मने: to the soul of all / all-pervading self
• सर्वात्मने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास, पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूज्यम्: worthy of worship
• पूज्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) → पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय, gerundive/obligatory passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (मुखम् इति विशेष्ये)

• ललाटम्: forehead
• ललाटम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रभवाय: to the source/origin
• प्रभवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord as Sarveshvara and Sarvatman: all beings and powers are encompassed in the divine Self.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryami and Vishvarupa: the immanent Self of all; devotion matures into insight of all-pervading reality.

Application: During worship, expand contemplation from form to all-pervading presence; practice seeing the same Self in others to reduce ego-reactivity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic-vision (dhyana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.127.15 (continued limb salutations); Garuda Purana 1.127.17 (chakrin; night vigil)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Sarveśvara
• Sarvātman
• Sahasraśiras
• Prabhava

FAQs

What is the importance of body-part (aṅga) worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse maps specific limbs to divine epithets of Viṣṇu, teaching a contemplative form of worship where the body is sanctified through remembrance of the Lord’s cosmic forms.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By identifying the Lord as Sarvātman (Self of all), it reinforces that liberation-oriented practice rests on recognizing the indwelling divine reality rather than mere external ritual.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During daily prayer, mentally dedicate your actions and senses to the Divine—treat speech (face), resolve (forehead), and work (arms) as offerings aligned with dharma.