Shloka 25

Explanation of Purification (Śuddhi-vyākhyāna)

Devanagari script

कुर्यात् पिष्टमयीं लेखां नागानामाकृतिं भुवि / अर्चयेत् तां सितैः पुष्पैः सुगन्धैश्चन्दनेनच

Transliteration

kuryāt piṣṭamayīṃ lekhāṃ nāgānāmākṛtiṃ bhuvi / arcayet tāṃ sitaiḥ puṣpaiḥ sugandhaiścandanenaca

Translation

ഭൂമിയിൽ മാവുപേസ്റ്റ് ഉപയോഗിച്ച് നാഗങ്ങളുടെ ആകൃതി വരയ്ക്കണം. ആ രൂപത്തെ വെളുത്ത പുഷ്പങ്ങളാലും സുഗന്ധമുള്ള ചന്ദനത്താലും വിധിപൂർവ്വം അർച്ചിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should make
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पिष्ट-मयीम्: made of flour/paste
• पिष्ट-मयीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास — ‘पिष्टेन मयी’ (made of flour/paste)

• लेखाम्: a drawing/outline
• लेखाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• नागानाम्: of the Nāgas (serpents)
• नागानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• आकृतिम्: the form/shape
• आकृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ताम्: that (drawing)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सितैः: with white
• सितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• पुष्पैः: flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• सुगन्धैः: fragrant
• सुगन्धैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• चन्दनेन: with sandalwood (paste)
• चन्दनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion can be embodied through simple, pure materials; form-making (ākṛti) and fragrance/whiteness signify sattva and reverence.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-bhakti through upāsanā with accessible symbols; purity of intention expressed via simple offerings.

Application: Create a clean ritual space; craft a simple Nāga form with flour paste; offer white flowers and sandalwood with focused mind and non-harming intent.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: household courtyard/ritual floor; nāga-sthāna substitute icon

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata/pūjā procedures using bhū-lekha (ground diagrams) and simple materials (thematic)

Characters & Entities

• Nāgas

FAQs

What is the importance of Nāga worship in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes a specific, simple ritual method—creating a Nāga-form on the ground from flour paste and offering pure, fragrant items—showing that correct form and sattvic offerings are central to Nāga-related rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

While not directly describing the soul’s journey, it belongs to the Preta Kanda’s ritual framework: prescribed worship and offerings are presented as dharmic acts that support purity, removal of obstacles, and proper observance connected with post-death and ancestral concerns.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform worship with intentionality and purity: use a clean symbolic representation, offer simple sattvic items (white flowers, sandalwood), and keep the rite respectful rather than elaborate.