Shloka 16

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

गन्धपुष्पादिभिस्त्वेतैर्मन्त्रैरेतास्तु पूजयेत् / पूजयित्वा ततो विष्णुं सृष्टिसंहारकारिणम्

Transliteration

gandhapuṣpādibhistvetairmantrairetāstu pūjayet / pūjayitvā tato viṣṇuṃ sṛṣṭisaṃhārakāriṇam

Translation

ഈ മന്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ ഗന്ധം, പുഷ്പം മുതലായവ അർപ്പിച്ച് അവരെ പൂജിക്കണം; പൂജ കഴിഞ്ഞ് സൃഷ്ടി-സംഹാരകർത്താവായ ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണുവിനെ പൂജിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• gandhapuṣpādibhiḥ: with sandal paste, flowers, etc.
• gandhapuṣpādibhiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha-puṣpa-ādi (गन्ध-पुष्प-आदि)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Vakyalankara (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (तु)
• Form: Conjunction

• etaiḥ: with these
• etaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (एतद्)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (मन्त्र)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• etāḥ: these (deities)
• etāḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद्)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (पूज्)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular

• pūjayitvā: having worshipped
• pūjayitvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūj (पूज्)
• Form: Ktva Pratyaya (Gerund/Absolutive)

• tataḥ: then/after that
• tataḥ: Adhikaranavachaka (Time/Sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततस्)
• Form: Adverb

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (विष्णु)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• sṛṣṭisaṃhārakāriṇam: the cause of creation and destruction
• sṛṣṭisaṃhārakāriṇam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sṛṣṭi-saṃhāra-kārin (सृष्टि-संहार-कारिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upacāra-pūjā and ordered devotion culminating in Viṣṇu as the ultimate object of worship beyond subsidiary deities.

Vedantic Theme: Jagat-kāraṇatva of Īśvara: creation and dissolution belong to the Lord; ritual order mirrors metaphysical hierarchy (from āvaraṇa to īśvara).

Application: In pūjā, offer sensory tokens (fragrance/flowers) with mantra, then center the practice on Viṣṇu as the supreme cause; keep sequence consistent to stabilize attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: altar/arcana setting

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.15 (mantra salutations); Garuda Purana 1.31.18 (nyāsa, mudrā, arghya)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of offerings like fragrance and flowers in Garuda Purana worship?

This verse emphasizes that worship is performed with both mantras and tangible offerings (gandha, puṣpa, etc.), expressing devotion and completing the ritual act.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

By directing the worshipper ultimately to Viṣṇu—the lord of creation and dissolution—the verse points to the supreme refuge beyond worldly cycles, a key orientation for liberation amid life-and-death teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing any puja, keep the practice orderly: offer with sincerity (simple flowers/fragrance if available) and conclude by remembering the Supreme (Viṣṇu) as the final focus of devotion.