Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

यथात्मनि तथा देवे न्यासं कुर्वीत चादितः / मुद्रां प्रदर्शयेत्पश्चादर्घ्यादीनर्पयेत्ततः

Transliteration

yathātmani tathā deve nyāsaṃ kurvīta cāditaḥ / mudrāṃ pradarśayetpaścādarghyādīnarpayettataḥ

Translation

ആദ്യം സ്വയംമേലും അതുപോലെ ദേവതമേലും ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം; പിന്നെ മുദ്രകൾ പ്രദർശിപ്പിച്ച്, തുടർന്ന് അർഘ്യാദി ഉപചാരങ്ങൾ അർപ്പിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamana (Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (यथा)
• Form: Adverb

• ātmani: in oneself
• ātmani: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन्)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• tathā: so/similarly
• tathā: Upameya (Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (तथा)
• Form: Adverb

• deve: in the deity
• deve: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (देव)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nyāsam: placement (Nyasa)
• nyāsam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāsa (न्यास)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kurvīta: should perform
• kurvīta: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular, Atmanepada

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (Collection)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Conjunction

• āditaḥ: from the beginning
• āditaḥ: Apadana/Adhikarana (Source/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādi (आदि)
• Form: Tasil Pratyaya (Suffix indicating 'from')

• mudrām: mudra (hand gesture)
• mudrām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudrā (मुद्रा)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pradarśayet: should show/display
• pradarśayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश्)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular, Causal (Nijanta)

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Adhikaranavachaka (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (पश्चात्)
• Form: Adverb

• arghyādīn: offerings starting with Arghya
• arghyādīn: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya-ādi (अर्घ्य-आदि)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• arpayet: should offer
• arpayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ṛ (ऋ)
• Form: Vidhilin Lakara (Potential), Prathama Purusha (3rd), Singular, Causal (Nijanta)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaranavachaka (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (ततस्)
• Form: Adverb

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nyāsa as embodied contemplation: placing mantra/power in limbs reveals the body as a temple; mudrā and offerings externalize inner alignment.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyātma-upāsanā: the locus of worship is ultimately consciousness; ritual gestures train recognition of the sacred in self and world.

Application: Before worship/meditation, do a brief body-scan with mantra (nyāsa-like), then a simple hand-gesture/intentional seal (mudrā), then offer water/attention (arghya) as a mindful act.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: worship setting (internal body-field + external deity-field)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.16-17 (pūjā sequence; maṇḍala invocation)

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the worshipped deity)
• Ātman (the practitioner/self)

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents nyāsa as the first step of worship—installing mantra-consciousness in oneself and in the deity—so the subsequent ritual actions become properly consecrated.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead, it teaches disciplined ritual order (nyāsa → mudrā → offerings), reflecting the broader Purāṇic emphasis that right practice (ācāra) supports spiritual purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain correct sequence in worship: begin with inner preparation (nyāsa/centering), then perform gestures with attention (mudrā), and only then make offerings—prioritizing intention and method over haste.