Shloka 11

Devanagari script

गुरुः शिष्यं समभ्यर्च्य नेत्रे बद्धे तु वाससा / देवस्य प्रमुखं कृत्वा पुष्पमेवार्पयेत्ततः / पुष्पं निपतितं यत्र मूर्ध्नो देवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः

Transliteration

guruḥ śiṣyaṃ samabhyarcya netre baddhe tu vāsasā / devasya pramukhaṃ kṛtvā puṣpamevārpayettataḥ / puṣpaṃ nipatitaṃ yatra mūrdhno devasya śārṅgiṇaḥ

Translation

Sesudah memuliakan murid, guru hendaklah menutup mata murid dengan sehelai kain. Menghadap ke hadapan arca Dewa, biarkan murid mempersembahkan sekuntum bunga. Tempat bunga itu jatuh—pada kepala Śārṅgin (Viṣṇu, pemegang busur Śārṅga)—hendaklah diperhatikan sebagai petanda yang utama.

Word by Word

• गुरुः: teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — the teacher

• शिष्यम्: disciple
• शिष्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — disciple

• समभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• समभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अभि-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — having duly worshipped

• नेत्रे: (the) two eyes
• नेत्रे: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), द्विवचन — the two eyes

• बद्धे: bound/covered
• बद्धे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु) → बद्ध (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), द्विवचन; ‘netre’ इति विशेषणम् — bound/covered

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः — but/indeed

• वाससा: with cloth
• वाससा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन — with a cloth

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — of the deity

• प्रमुखम्: the front
• प्रमुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — the front/forepart

• कृत्वा: having made/placed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) — having made/placing

• पुष्पम्: flower
• पुष्पम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — flower

• एव: only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् — only/indeed

• अर्पयेत्: should offer
• अर्पयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्प् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — should offer

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्ययम् — then/thereafter

• पुष्पम्: the flower
• पुष्पम्: Karta/Anuvartya (कर्ता/अनुवर्त्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — flower

• निपतितम्: fallen
• निपतितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-पत् (धातु) → निपतित (कृदन्त-क्त)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन — fallen

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् — where

• मूर्ध्नः: of (the) head
• मूर्ध्नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — of the head

• देवस्य: of the deity
• देवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — of the deity

• शार्ङ्गिणः: of Śārṅgin (Vishnu)
• शार्ङ्गिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — of Śārṅgin (Vishnu, bearer of Śārṅga bow)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra, instructional tone)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Surrender of personal choice (blindfold) and reliance on divine will expressed through ritual signs.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-pranidhāna (entrusting outcomes to the Lord) within structured ritual action.

Application: In decision-rites or initiation naming/selection, reduce bias, act reverently, and accept outcomes as guidance—while maintaining discernment and dharmic boundaries.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple or consecrated ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.9.12 (naming based on indication and social markers); Garuda Purana 1.9.10 (guru’s role and sanctifying action)

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• Shishya
• Vishnu (Śārṅgin)
• Deva (deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of the flower-offering indication (puṣpa-pāta) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse describes a controlled, guru-guided method of offering a flower to Viṣṇu while blindfolded, where the flower’s landing place is treated as a meaningful indication to be observed.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it teaches a ritual technique within the conduct/ritual section (Ācāra), emphasizing disciplined worship and seeking divine guidance under a guru.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach worship with humility and proper guidance, avoid superstition by keeping rituals structured and reverent, and treat “signs” as secondary to dharma and disciplined practice.