Shloka 23

Pañcatattva-Pūjā: The Fivefold Vyuha of Hari, Mantras, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala, and Stotra

Devanagari script

धर्मं ज्ञानं च वैराग्यमैश्वर्यं पूर्वदेशतः / आग्नेयादिष्वर्चयेद्वै अधर्मादिचतुष्टयम्

Transliteration

dharmaṃ jñānaṃ ca vairāgyamaiśvaryaṃ pūrvadeśataḥ / āgneyādiṣvarcayedvai adharmādicatuṣṭayam

Translation

Menghadap ke timur, hendaklah dipuja Dharma, Jñāna (pengetahuan rohani), Vairāgya (ketidakmelekatan), dan Aiśvarya (kedaulatan ilahi); dan pada arah bermula dari tenggara, hendaklah dipuja empat yang bermula dengan Adharma (ketidakbenaran).

Word by Word

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

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordship; power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूर्वदेशतः: from the eastern region
• पूर्वदेशतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; अपादानार्थे/‘from’ sense)

• आग्नेयादिषु: in the directions beginning with the southeast
• आग्नेयादिषु: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘आग्नेय-आदि’ (आग्नेयादि-दिशः)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

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

• अधर्मादि-चतुष्टयम्: the set of four beginning with adharma
• अधर्मादि-चतुष्टयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समूहवाचक

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cultivation of the four dharmic excellences (dharma, jnana, vairagya, aishvarya) and recognition of their opposites (adharma etc.) as forces to be transcended.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination) between sattvic and tamasic tendencies; aligning inner qualities with sacred order (ṛta/dharma).

Application: During puja/meditation, consciously invoke dharma-jnana-vairagya-aishvarya (east) and acknowledge/renounce adharma and allied faults in the other quarters; use it as a moral inventory practice.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: directional mandala/altar quarters

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.32.22 (mandala worship sequence); Garuda Purana 1.32.24-26 (mandala seat; vyuhas; lokapalas)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Dharma, Jñāna, Vairāgya, and Aiśvarya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats these four as auspicious spiritual supports to be invoked first (facing east), establishing a foundation of right conduct, insight, detachment, and disciplined power before any further rite.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it prioritizes inner virtues (dharma, knowledge, detachment) as the orientation of one’s life and worship—qualities the Purāṇas repeatedly present as essential for a favorable post-death course and higher spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin daily practice by reaffirming ethical duty, learning, and detachment; then consciously recognize and avoid the opposing tendencies (starting with adharma) that pull one away from clarity and right living.