Shloka 99

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

निष्क्रम्य बहिराचार्यो दिक्पालानां बलिं हरेत् / आचार्यः पुष्पहस्तस्तु क्षमस्वेति विसर्जयेत्

Transliteration

niṣkramya bahirācāryo dikpālānāṃ baliṃ haret / ācāryaḥ puṣpahastastu kṣamasveti visarjayet

Translation

പുറത്തേക്ക് ചെന്നു ആചാര്യൻ ദിക്‌പാലന്മാർക്ക് ബലി അർപ്പിക്കണം; പിന്നെ കൈയിൽ പുഷ്പം പിടിച്ച് ‘ക്ഷമസ്വ’ എന്നു പറഞ്ഞു അവരെ വിസർജ്ജിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• निष्क्रम्य: having gone out
• निष्क्रम्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्-क्रम् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having gone out’

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (Place/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• आचार्यः: the teacher/priest
• आचार्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• दिक्पालानाम्: of the guardians of the directions
• दिक्पालानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Genitive, Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिशां पालाः)

• बलिम्: offering (bali)
• बलिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• हरेत्: should offer/bring (carry)
• हरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular)

• आचार्यः: the teacher/priest
• आचार्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• पुष्पहस्तः: having flowers in hand
• पुष्पहस्तः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom, Singular); तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थ: ‘पुष्पेण/पुष्पस्य हस्तः’ = ‘with flowers in hand’

• तु: indeed, then
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/विरोधसूचक (particle: but/indeed)

• क्षमस्व: forgive (you)
• क्षमस्व: Kriya (Speech act/वाक्कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (Imperative, 2nd person, Singular, Ātmanepada)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• विसर्जयेत्: should dismiss/send off
• विसर्जयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि- सृज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Propitiate and respectfully dismiss invoked powers; ritual closure includes apology/appeasement (kṣamā) and release (visarjana).

Vedantic Theme: Ṛta/dharma alignment: acknowledging cosmic guardians and maintaining harmony through humility.

Application: End ceremonies with gratitude and closure; apologize for mistakes; formally conclude agreements and invitations.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: outside the mandapa / threshold space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (bali to dikpālas; visarjana formula)

Characters & Entities

• Dikpalas (guardians of the directions)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering bali to the Dikpalas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames bali as a formal ritual duty to the directional guardians, acknowledging cosmic order and completing the rite with proper respect to the deities of space/directions.

How does this verse explain the correct conclusion of a ritual?

It prescribes a clear closing sequence: step outside, make the directional offering, then perform visarjana—politely dismissing the invoked beings with a request for kṣamā (grace/forgiveness).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing puja or homa, include a respectful closing: make any prescribed offerings and end with a brief kṣamā-prārthanā and visarjana to avoid leaving the ritual ‘open’.