Shloka 1

Upāsanā-krama: Maṇḍala-rakṣā, Dvāra-devatā-sthāpana, Lotus-Cosmology, and Aniruddha-Nārāyaṇa Pūjā

Devanagari script

पञ्चविंशत्युत्तरशततमो ऽध्यायः ब्रह्मोवाच / येनार्चनेन वै लोको जगाम परमां गतिम् / तमर्चनं प्रवक्ष्यामि भुक्तिमुक्तिकरं परम्

Transliteration

pañcaviṃśatyuttaraśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ brahmovāca / yenārcanena vai loko jagāma paramāṃ gatim / tamarcanaṃ pravakṣyāmi bhuktimuktikaraṃ param

Translation

Brahmā bersabda: “Ibadah yang dengannya makhluk benar-benar mencapai tujuan tertinggi—kini akan aku jelaskan cara pemujaan itu, yang maha utama, yang menganugerahkan bhukti (kenikmatan dunia) dan mukti (pembebasan).”

Word by Word

• पञ्चविंशत्युत्तरशततमः: the one hundred and twenty-fifth
• पञ्चविंशत्युत्तरशततमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चविंशति (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + तम (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal); समासार्थः: शतस्य उत्तरः पञ्चविंशतिः (125th)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता/उद्देश्य (heading)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वक्ता (speaker)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrument)

• अर्चनेन: by worship
• अर्चनेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/उपपद अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• लोकः: the world/people
• लोकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• जगाम: went, attained
• जगाम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• परमाम्: supreme
• परमाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (गतिम्)

• गतिम्: state, destination
• गतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म (अर्चनम् इत्यस्य निर्देश)

• अर्चनम्: worship (procedure)
• अर्चनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• भुक्तिमुक्तिकरम्: granting enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्तिमुक्तिकरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च करोतीति); विशेषण (अर्चनम्)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (अर्चनम्)

Speaker

Brahma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: There exists a mode of worship (arcana) that yields both worldly well-being and liberation; it will be taught systematically.

Vedantic Theme: Integration of purusharthas under devotion: kama/artha (bhukti) subordinated to dharma and culminating in moksha through Ishvara-upasana.

Application: Approach worship as a structured sadhana with right intention—seek purification and liberation, not merely results; follow taught procedure with faith and steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: arcana-vidhi sequence that follows in this chapter (mandala, devata-nyasa, adhara-shakti, kurma, ananta, etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of arcana (worship) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames arcana as a decisive spiritual practice—capable of leading beings to the “highest destination,” not merely to temporary merit.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It introduces a path centered on worship that culminates in “paramā gati,” implying that right devotional-ritual practice can elevate the soul beyond ordinary worldly ends toward liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a consistent, sincere worship discipline (arcana) with ethical living, aiming not only for success (bhukti) but also inner freedom (mukti).