Shloka 12

Gopāla-pūjāvidhi: Maṇḍala, Dik-devatā, Mantra-aṅga, and Āyudha Installation

Devanagari script

शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मं मुसलं शार्ङ्गमर्चयेत् / खङ्गं पाशाङ्कुशं प्राच्यां श्रीवत्सं कौस्तुभं यजेत्

Transliteration

śaṅkhacakragadāpadmaṃ musalaṃ śārṅgamarcayet / khaṅgaṃ pāśāṅkuśaṃ prācyāṃ śrīvatsaṃ kaustubhaṃ yajet

Translation

ശംഖം, ചക്രം, ഗദ, പദ്മം, മുസലം, ശാർങ്ഗം (ദിവ്യധനുസ്സ്) എന്നിവയെ അർച്ചിക്കണം. കിഴക്കോട്ട് മുഖം തിരിച്ച് ഖഡ്ഗം, പാശം, അങ്കുശം എന്നിവയെ വന്ദിച്ച് ശ്രീവത്സവും കൗസ്തുഭമണിയും പൂജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मम्: conch, discus, mace, and lotus (as a set)
• शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (शङ्खश्च चक्रं च गदा च पद्मं च)

• मुसलम्: pestle/club
• मुसलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुसल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• शार्ङ्गम्: Śārṅga (the bow)
• शार्ङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• खङ्गम्: sword
• खङ्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• पाशाङ्कुशम्: noose and goad (as a pair)
• पाशाङ्कुशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (पाशश्च अङ्कुशश्च)

• प्राच्याम्: in the east
• प्राच्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative)

• श्रीवत्सम्: Śrīvatsa mark
• श्रीवत्सम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• कौस्तुभम्: Kaustubha jewel
• कौस्तुभम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे भेदः), द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• यजेत्: should worship; should offer
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within the Garuda Purana dialogue framework)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Worship of Viṣṇu’s āyudhas (śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, padma, musala, śārṅga, khaḍga, pāśa, aṅkuśa) and his distinguishing marks (Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha) as complete surrender to the Lord’s protecting and sustaining powers.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā through symbols: the Lord known via lakṣaṇas (marks) and śaktis (weapons) that uphold dharma and remove obstacles; devotion matures by recognizing the One through many attributes.

Application: In daily pūjā, include at least symbolic offerings to the four primary emblems (śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma); remember Śrīvatsa (inseparability of Śrī) and Kaustubha (inner radiance of consciousness) as contemplative cues.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual orientation/dik

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.28 (āyudha-pūjā and parivāra-nyāsa context)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Śārṅga
• Śrīvatsa
• Kaustubha

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Vishnu’s weapons (āyudhas) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Viṣṇu’s emblems—conch, discus, mace, lotus, bow, etc.—as worship-worthy manifestations of divine power and protection, forming part of a disciplined upāsanā (devotional ritual) practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing the afterlife directly, the verse emphasizes orthodox worship and orientation (facing east), implying that correct devotion and ritual order are supportive disciplines for spiritual welfare and auspicious destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In daily prayer, one may consciously honor Viṣṇu’s symbols (Śaṅkha–Cakra–Gadā–Padma, etc.) and maintain mindful ritual direction and focus, using these emblems as reminders of protection, restraint, and dharmic living.