Shloka 8

Gāyatrī-nyāsa, Pāda-bheda, and Purificatory Power in Sādhana

Devanagari script

पश्चमे मूर्ध्नि चाकारं न्यसेद्वर्णान्वदाम्यहम् / इन्द्रनीलं च वह्निं च पीतं श्यामं च कापिलम्

Transliteration

paścame mūrdhni cākāraṃ nyasedvarṇānvadāmyaham / indranīlaṃ ca vahniṃ ca pītaṃ śyāmaṃ ca kāpilam

Translation

Pada penempatan kelima, hendaklah diletakkan suku kata “ā” di ubun-ubun. Kini aku nyatakan warna-warna yang berkaitan: indranīla (biru nilam/safir), warna api (merah), kuning, gelap kehitaman, dan kāpila (perang kekuningan).

Word by Word

• पश्चमे: in the fifth (place) / in the western (place)
• पश्चमे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक/दिशावाचक-विशेषण

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head/crown
• मूर्ध्नि: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• आकारम्: the letter/syllable ‘ā’ (ākāra)
• आकारम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वर्णान्: letters/sounds
• वर्णान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• वदामि: I say
• वदामि: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• इन्द्रनीलम्: indigo-blue (sapphire-like)
• इन्द्रनीलम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रनील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य नीलः इति (determinative)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• वह्निम्: fire
• वह्निम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पीतम्: yellow
• पीतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• श्यामम्: dark/blackish
• श्यामम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• कापिलम्: tawny/brownish
• कापिलम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कापिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-syllable (ākāra/‘ā’) and varṇa-rūpa (color-forms) as contemplative supports linking sound, form, and awareness.

Vedantic Theme: Upasana through nāma-rūpa as a ladder toward inner stillness; subtle correspondences refine attention (citta-śuddhi).

Application: During japa/nyāsa, visualize the syllable ‘ā’ at the crown with the prescribed color sequence to stabilize concentration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: body-mandala (crown of head)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.35 (color sequences and placements continuing through 1.35.9–11)

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa (placing syllables on the body) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats nyāsa as a disciplined ritual mapping of mantra onto the body—here, placing “ā” on the crown—supporting inner purification and focused worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

Indirectly: by emphasizing subtle-body discipline (mantra placement and color-visualization), it points to purification practices believed to aid spiritual clarity and auspicious transition in life and death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder that ritual and meditation work best with precision—maintain correct mantra pronunciation, mindful visualization, and ethical living to support steadiness of mind.