Shloka 33

Mantra-Nyāsa and Elemental Maṇḍalas: Nāga Invocation and Garuḍa–Bhairava Dhyāna for Protection

Devanagari script

देहे न्यासं पुरा कृत्वा ह्यनुलोमविलोमतः / कन्दं नालं तथा पद्मं धर्मं ज्ञानादिमेव च

Transliteration

dehe nyāsaṃ purā kṛtvā hyanulomavilomataḥ / kandaṃ nālaṃ tathā padmaṃ dharmaṃ jñānādimeva ca

Translation

Mula-mula, setelah melakukan nyāsa pada tubuh menurut susunan maju dan terbalik, kemudian hendaklah merenung kanda (umbi), nāla (tangkai), dan padma (teratai), serta prinsip-prinsip yang bermula dengan dharma dan jñāna dan seterusnya.

Word by Word

• देहे: in the body
• देहे: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचन

• न्यासम्: nyāsa
• न्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• पुरा: first/beforehand
• पुरा: Kāla (Temporal adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (formerly/first)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having done’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avadhāraṇa (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/indeed)

• अनुलोमविलोमतः: in direct and reverse order
• अनुलोमविलोमतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुलोम + विलोम + तस् (अव्यय); घटकाः: अनु-लोम, वि-लोम
• Form: अव्यय; द्वन्द्वसमास + तसिल्-प्रत्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘in forward and reverse order’

• कन्दम्: the bulb/root (kanda)
• कन्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• नालम्: the stalk (nāla)
• नालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक (also/likewise)

• पद्मम्: the lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• ज्ञानादिम्: (things) beginning with knowledge
• ज्ञानादिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन; ‘ज्ञानादि’ = ‘beginning with knowledge’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nyāsa is not merely external placement; it is a guided contemplation of the subtle body and a graded reflection on dharma, jñāna, and allied tattvas.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana as purification of antaḥkaraṇa: dharma supports clarity; jñāna culminates in recognition of the Self beyond ritual forms.

Application: Pair ritual nyāsa with a brief inner scan: root (kanda) → central channel (nāla) → heart/inner lotus (padma); then recall one dharma commitment and one jñāna insight before proceeding.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner-sacred-topography

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.197.31-32 (tattva-krama; body–deity mapping); Garuda Purana 1.197.34-35 (lotus-pericarp syllable placement; directional akṣara-nyāsa)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents nyāsa as the preparatory act—installing sacred awareness in the body—before deeper contemplation of the subtle centers (kanda–nāla–padma) and higher principles like dharma and jñāna.

How does this verse relate to the subtle body (sūkṣma-śarīra) teachings?

By naming kanda (bulb), nāla (stalk/channel), and padma (lotus), the verse points to an inner yogic map used for meditation—moving from bodily sanctification (nyāsa) to visualization of subtle structures and virtues.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any spiritual practice with disciplined preparation (purification, intention, orderly steps), then cultivate dharma and jñāna as the guiding principles behind meditation rather than treating practice as mere technique.