Shloka 37

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

पिङ्गला द्वे च नाड्यौ तु प्राणो ऽपानश्च मारुतौ / इन्द्रो देहो ब्रह्महेतुश्चतुरस्त्रं च मण्डलम्

Transliteration

piṅgalā dve ca nāḍyau tu prāṇo 'pānaśca mārutau / indro deho brahmahetuścaturastraṃ ca maṇḍalam

Translation

Piṅgalā dan dua nāḍī; prāṇa dan apāna sebagai angin hayat; Indra sebagai kuasa yang memerintah; tubuh sebagai medan; Brahman sebagai sebab; dan maṇḍala berbentuk empat sisi (segi empat).

Word by Word

• पिङ्गला: Piṅgalā (nāḍī)
• पिङ्गला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

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

• नाड्यौ: nāḍīs (channels)
• नाड्यौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• प्राणः: prāṇa (in-breath)
• प्राणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपानः: apāna (down-breath)
• अपानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• मारुतौ: the two winds
• मारुतौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देहः: body
• देहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्महेतुः: cause of Brahman / Brahma-cause
• ब्रह्महेतुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः हेतुः)

• चतुरस्त्रम्: four-sided (square)
• चतुरस्त्रम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चतुर्-अस्त्रं = चतुर्भिः कोणैः युक्तम्)

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

• मण्डलम्: maṇḍala (circle/diagram)
• मण्डलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm alignment: prāṇa/apāna and nāḍīs as the operative forces; Brahman as causal ground; maṇḍala as contemplative support.

Vedantic Theme: Kārya-kāraṇa-viveka (effect–cause discernment) pointing from body-processes to Brahman as hetu (cause).

Application: Observe prāṇa/apāna balance (breath awareness/prāṇāyāma) while using a square bhū-maṇḍala visualization to stabilize attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner yogic anatomy + yantric space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.36 (heart-lotus locus); Garuda Purana 1.23.39 (mantra/maṇḍala and bhū-tantra)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of nāḍīs and prāṇa-apāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links the subtle channels (nāḍīs) and the vital airs (prāṇa and apāna) to the functioning of embodied life, presenting them as key components in the Purāṇic mapping of the subtle body.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing nāḍīs and vital winds, the verse points to the subtle physiology that underlies life, death, and transition—concepts the Garuda Purana uses when describing how consciousness and life-force operate around departure from the body.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate disciplined breathing, purity, and steadiness (prāṇa regulation and ethical living), recognizing the body as an instrument governed by subtle forces and oriented toward the highest cause (Brahman).