Shloka 46

Explanation of the Sapiṇḍana Rite; Causes of Pretahood; Viṣṇu Worship and Preta-ghaṭa Dāna

Devanagari script

पूर्वे तु श्रीधरं देवं दक्षिणे मधुसूदनम् / पश्चिमे वानमं देवमुत्तरे च गदाधरम्

Transliteration

pūrve tu śrīdharaṃ devaṃ dakṣiṇe madhusūdanam / paścime vānamaṃ devamuttare ca gadādharam

Translation

കിഴക്കിൽ ശ്രീധരദേവനെ, തെക്കിൽ മധുസൂദനനെ, പടിഞ്ഞാറിൽ വാമനദേവനെ, വടക്കിൽ ഗദാധരനെ സ്ഥാപിച്ച് (ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്ത്) വേണം।

Word by Word

• पूर्वे: in the east
• पूर्वे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दिशावाचक), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• श्रीधरम्: Śrīdhara (Viṣṇu)
• श्रीधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); अप्पोजिशन ‘श्रीधरम्’ प्रति

• दक्षिणे: in the south
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दिशावाचक), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मधुसूदनम्: Madhusūdana
• मधुसूदनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दिशावाचक), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वामनम्: Vāmana
• वामनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); अप्पोजिशन ‘वामनम्’ प्रति

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (दिशावाचक), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• गदाधरम्: Gadādhara
• गदाधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dik-bandhana through Viṣṇu-nāma: invoking specific forms in each direction to sacralize space and align worship with cosmic order (ṛta).

Vedantic Theme: Unity-in-manifold: one Lord expressed through many names and functions; ordered worship steadies the mind and dissolves fragmentation.

Application: During pūjā, consciously orient the altar and invoke directional guardianship via Viṣṇu names; use this as a mindfulness map for attention in space.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pūjā-vidhi passages using directional placements and multiple Viṣṇu epithets; Garuda Purana: protective rites where nāma-nyāsa and dik-nyāsa are implied

Characters & Entities

• Shridhara
• Madhusudana
• Vamana
• Gadadhara
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of placing Vishnu’s forms in the four directions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches a protective, orderly arrangement of Vishnu’s names/forms by direction, used to sanctify the ritual space and invoke divine guardianship during rites connected with death and the afterlife.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey after death?

By establishing Vishnu’s protective presence in all directions, the ritual environment is made spiritually secure—supporting the departed and the family in performing prescribed observances without obstructive influences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During shraddha, prayer, or remembrance rituals, one may mentally invoke these Vishnu forms by direction to cultivate focus, reverence, and a protective devotional framework.