Shloka 45

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

रुद्रहेतुस्त्रिरुद्धातास्त्रिगुणा रक्तवर्णकम् / ज्वालाकृते त्रिकोणं च चतुः कोटिशतानि च

Transliteration

rudrahetustriruddhātāstriguṇā raktavarṇakam / jvālākṛte trikoṇaṃ ca catuḥ koṭiśatāni ca

Translation

ഇത് രുദ്ര-ഹേതുവാൽ ഉത്ഭവിച്ചതു, ത്രിവിധ നിയന്ത്രിതം, ത്രിഗുണാത്മകം, രക്തവർണം. ജ്വാലാകൃതിയിലുള്ള ത്രികോണം; ഇതിന്റെ പ്രമാണം നാലുനൂറ് കോടി.

Word by Word

• रुद्रहेतुः: cause connected with Rudra
• रुद्रहेतुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य हेतुः/रुद्र-हेतुः)

• त्रिरुद्धाताः: three ‘ruddhātā’ (threefold ordainers)
• त्रिरुद्धाताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + रुद्धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रि-रुद्धाता)

• त्रिगुणाः: three guṇas
• त्रिगुणाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रयः गुणाः)

• रक्तवर्णकम्: red-colored
• रक्तवर्णकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त + वर्णक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (रक्तं वर्णकं/रक्तवर्णक) विशेषण

• ज्वालाकृते: in/with the flame-made (form)
• ज्वालाकृते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला + कृत (कृदन्त; कृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष/कृदन्त (ज्वालया कृतम्/ज्वालाकृत)

• त्रिकोणम्: triangle
• त्रिकोणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रयः कोणाः यस्य)

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

• चतुः: four
• चतुः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या; अत्र ‘चतुः’ = ‘चारि’ (four) (numeral)

• कोटिशतानि: hundreds of crores
• कोटिशतानि: Karma/Predicate (Contextual)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (कोटीनां शतानि)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Transformative tejas (Rudra principle) is structured (triangular, three-guṇa) and restrained (triruddha) to serve purification rather than chaos.

Vedantic Theme: Sublimation of guṇas: using structured rajas/tejas as a ladder toward sattva and eventual transcendence; disciplined containment of power.

Application: In practice, visualize the red triangular flame as steady and bounded; if agitation arises, return to breath and cooling awareness—power is to be ‘restrained’ (ruddha) and made serviceable.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: yogic mandala geometry

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.42-44 (mandala/lotus loci leading to this fiery triangular form)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of the 'Rudra-hetu' (caused by Rudra) description in Garuda Purana?

This verse attributes a fearsome, fiery principle/form to Rudra, emphasizing that certain subtle-world phenomena are governed by divine cosmic forces rather than random chance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By describing a guṇa-based, flame-like, structured realm/form with vast extent, it frames the post-death journey as passing through precisely ordered subtle realities shaped by cosmic laws (guṇas) and divine governance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivating sattva (clarity) through ethical living, restraint, and devotion helps reduce tamas/rajas-driven suffering in the after-death trajectory described in Garuda Purana.