Shloka 18

Devanagari script

यमुनां च महादेवीं शङ्खपद्मनिधी तथा / गरुडं पूजयेदग्रे मध्ये शक्तिञ्च पूजयेत्

Transliteration

yamunāṃ ca mahādevīṃ śaṅkhapadmanidhī tathā / garuḍaṃ pūjayedagre madhye śaktiñca pūjayet

Translation

യമുനയെയും മഹാദേവിയെയും, ശംഖ‑പദ്മ നിധിദേവതകളെയും പൂജിക്കണം. മുൻവശത്ത് ഗരുഡനെ, മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ ശക്തിയെയും പൂജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• यमुनाम्: Yamunā
• यमुनाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yamunā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

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

• महादेवीम्: the Great Goddess
• महादेवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + devī (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'महान् देव्या' = great goddess

• शङ्खपद्मनिधी: the Śaṅkha- and Padma-treasures (nidhis)
• शङ्खपद्मनिधी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha + padma + nidhi (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व: 'शङ्खनिधि' + 'पद्मनिधि' (two treasures/deities)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/तुल्यबोधक): likewise/also

• गरुडम्: Garuḍa
• गरुडम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garuḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभ (क्रियाविशेषण), सप्तमी-एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययवत्: in front/at the fore

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभ (क्रियाविशेषण), सप्तमी-एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययवत्: in the middle

• शक्तिम्: Śakti (power/goddess)
• शक्तिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

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

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज्) (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Complete worship includes tīrtha-devīs, prosperity principles (nidhis), protective vāhana (Garuḍa), and inner power (Śakti) oriented toward Viṣṇu-centered devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Harmony of śakti and īśvara-bhakti: divine power is honored as supportive, not separate from the supreme focus.

Application: In pūjā, honor purifying forces (river goddesses), invoke protection (Garuḍa), and remember inner strength (Śakti) while keeping devotion aligned to the main deity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: altar layout (front/center) within pūjā-maṇḍapa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.18 (parivāra-devatā: Yamunā, Mahādevī, Śaṅkha/Padma nidhis, Garuḍa, Śakti)

Characters & Entities

• Yamuna
• Mahadevi
• Shankha-nidhi
• Padma-nidhi
• Garuda
• Shakti

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Garuḍa ‘in front’ (agre) in this Garuda Purana verse?

It prescribes a ritual placement: Garuḍa is honored at the forefront as a protective, guiding presence, framing the rite with auspicious guardianship.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices connected with protection and rites?

The verse lists specific deities to be invoked—Yamunā, Mahādevī, Śaṅkha and Padma, Garuḍa, and Śakti—indicating a structured worship sequence used to sanctify and safeguard the ritual space.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing a home pūjā or ancestral/ritual observance, keep a clear sequence and intention: invoke protective and auspicious powers first (Garuḍa/Śakti), and maintain disciplined, respectful worship rather than a random order.