Shloka 48

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

Devanagari script

समुद्रांश्चैव विन्यस्य चतुरश्चतुरो दिशः / क्षीरं दधि क्षीरोदस्य घृतोदस्येति वा पुनः

Transliteration

samudrāṃścaiva vinyasya caturaścaturo diśaḥ / kṣīraṃ dadhi kṣīrodasya ghṛtodasyeti vā punaḥ

Translation

चारही दिशांत प्रतीकात्मक समुद्रांचा विन्यास करून, नंतर क्षीर व दही अर्पण करावे—किंवा क्षीरोदधि व घृतोदधि यांसाठीही अर्पण करावे।

Word by Word

• समुद्रान्: oceans/seas
• समुद्रान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विन्यस्य: having arranged/placed
• विन्यस्य: Kriya (Auxiliary action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√अस् (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग) ; विन्यस्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• चतुरः: four
• चतुरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• चतुरः: four
• चतुरः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दिशः: directions
• दिशः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• क्षीरम्: milk
• क्षीरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• दधि: curd/yogurt
• दधि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• क्षीरोदस्य: of the Milk Ocean
• क्षीरोदस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + उद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (क्षीरोद = ‘milk-ocean’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• घृतोदस्य: of the Ghee Ocean
• घृतोदस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + उद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (घृतोद = ‘ghee-ocean’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-बोधक अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During consecration/abhiṣeka setup where cosmic elements are invoked (contextual)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic visualization (bhāvana) through ritual placement and nourishing offerings as devotion expressed in tangible symbols.

Vedantic Theme: The universe as īśvara-vibhūti: directions and oceans are contemplated as manifestations within sacred order.

Application: Use symbolic acts to cultivate reverence: align offerings with meaning (nourishment, purity, abundance) rather than mere formality.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-cosmogram (microcosm of the universe)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (ocean/kalasha/abhiṣeka sequence continuing)

Characters & Entities

• Samudras (oceans)
• Four Directions (Dik)

FAQs

What is the importance of placing the oceans in the four directions in the Garuda Purana?

It ritualizes the cosmos in a micro-form (dik-vinyasa), treating the rite as a complete sacred world-order before making offerings meant to support the departed.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and the soul’s journey?

By prescribing specific offerings (milk/curd and related ocean-symbolism), it emphasizes that correct ritual support (shraddha-style offerings) is part of the prescribed care for the deceased during transitional post-death rites.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Perform rites with clarity and reverence—offerings and directional arrangements should be done methodically, reflecting order, gratitude, and responsibility toward ancestors and family dharma.