Shloka 14

Worship (Pūjā): Vajra-nābha Maṇḍala Construction, Lotus-Seat Design, and Vaiṣṇava Nyāsa

Devanagari script

ब्रह्माणं सर्वगात्रेषु करयोः श्रीधरं तथा / अहं विष्णुरिति ध्यात्वा कर्णिकायां न्यसेद्धरिम्

Transliteration

brahmāṇaṃ sarvagātreṣu karayoḥ śrīdharaṃ tathā / ahaṃ viṣṇuriti dhyātvā karṇikāyāṃ nyaseddharim

Translation

Dengan bermeditasi, “Aku ialah Viṣṇu,” hendaklah seseorang menempatkan Brahmā pada seluruh anggota tubuh, Śrīdhara pada kedua tangan, lalu menegakkan Hari di teratai hati, pada bahagian putiknya (karnikā).

Word by Word

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā (as object to be placed/meditated)
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• सर्वगात्रेषु: in all limbs
• सर्वगात्रेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (सर्वाणि गात्राणि)

• करयोः: of the two hands
• करयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), द्विवचन

• श्रीधरम्: Śrīdhara
• श्रीधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/also')

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

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• इति: thus; ‘…’ (quoting)
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘having meditated’

• कर्णिकायाम्: in the pericarp (of the lotus)
• कर्णिकायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• न्यसेत्: should place
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे—‘should place’

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devatā-nyāsa and identity-contemplation (ahaṃ viṣṇuḥ) purify the embodied self and stabilize Viṣṇu-consciousness in the heart.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-bhāva and sādhaka’s movement from dehābhimāna to īśvara-smṛti; qualified non-dual contemplation within bhakti-ritual frame.

Application: Perform kara/anga-nyāsa with mantra-japa; conclude by meditating on Hari seated in the heart-lotus, maintaining calm breath and steady attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner/ritual body-mandala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.15-16 (dik-nyāsa and worship leading to paramam padam); Garuda Purana 1.9.1 (mūla-mantra homa as complementary rite)

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Śrīdhara
• Hari
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents nyāsa as a disciplined reminder that the body and senses are to be sanctified by installing divine presence—culminating in placing Hari in the heart-lotus.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing inward installation of Hari and identity-through-meditation (“I am Vishnu”), it points to purification of the subtle orientation of the mind—supporting liberation-focused awareness rather than outward distraction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use a brief daily practice: mentally dedicate the limbs to sacred purpose, steady the hands for righteous action, and rest attention in the heart with remembrance of Vishnu before beginning any ritual or duty.