Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

सदाशिवशिखान्तस्थं शक्तित्रितयमेव च / परात्परं शिवं साक्षात्तार्क्ष्यं भुवननायकम्

Transliteration

sadāśivaśikhāntasthaṃ śaktitritayameva ca / parātparaṃ śivaṃ sākṣāttārkṣyaṃ bhuvananāyakam

Translation

Wahai Tārkṣya (Garuda), Dia yang bersemayam di puncak Sadāśiva, yang sesungguhnya adalah tri-Śakti; Yang Mahatinggi melampaui segala yang tinggi—Śiva sendiri secara nyata—Dialah Tuhan dan pemerintah segala alam.

Word by Word

• sadāśivaśikhāntastham: situated at the tip/end of Sadāśiva’s crest
• sadāśivaśikhāntastham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadā-śiva-śikhā-anta-stha (प्रातिपदिक; सदाशिव + शिखा + अन्त + स्थ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषभावः ("सदाशिवस्य शिखायाः अन्ते स्थितम्")

• śaktitritayam: the triad of powers
• śaktitritayam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti-tritaya (प्रातिपदिक; शक्ति + त्रितय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ("शक्तीनां त्रितयम्")

• eva: indeed, only
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• parātparam: supremely transcendent
• parātparam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parāt-para (प्रातिपदिक; परात् + पर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष ("परात् अपि परम्" = beyond the beyond)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• sākṣāt: directly, manifestly
• sākṣāt: Sambandha/Qualifier (विशेषणभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tārkṣyam: Tārkṣya (Garuḍa)
• tārkṣyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tārkṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; गरुडनाम

• bhuvananāyakam: lord of the worlds
• bhuvananāyakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana-nāyaka (प्रातिपदिक; भुवन + नायक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ("भुवनानां नायकः")

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Tārkṣya in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Parātpara-tattva: the Supreme beyond the supreme, identical with Śiva, as bhūvana-nāyaka (ruler of worlds).

Vedantic Theme: Non-dual supremacy of the highest principle (parama-śiva/īśvara) as the ground of all realms; unity of power (śakti-tritaya) and lord (śiva).

Application: Use as a dhyāna/saṅkalpa opening: contemplate the highest lord as the source and governor of all actions and worlds before mantra-japa or protective rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic summit/śikhā

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.197.52-55 (Garuḍa-mantra/dhyāna, nyāsa, phala-śruti, guru-paramparā)

Characters & Entities

• Sadashiva
• Shiva
• Shakti-tritaya
• Garuda (Tarkshya)

FAQs

What is the importance of describing Shiva as ‘parātparam’ in the Garuda Purana?

It emphasizes Shiva’s absolute transcendence—beyond all relative levels of existence—presenting Him as the highest metaphysical principle and the direct (sākṣāt) Lord of all worlds.

How does this verse fit the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue structure of the Garuda Purana?

It functions as an instructive address to Garuda (Tārkṣya), where the teacher-speaker explains the supreme divine principle, using Shaiva terminology to convey ultimate lordship and cosmic governance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate steady devotion and humility by remembering a single highest reality governing all worlds, and align actions (dharma) with that reverence—through prayer, ethical conduct, and disciplined worship.