Shloka 113

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

चतुर्थावरणे पूर्वे महाकूर्माय वै नमः / वराहाय नमस्कुर्यादाग्नेये कन्यके शुभे

Transliteration

caturthāvaraṇe pūrve mahākūrmāya vai namaḥ / varāhāya namaskuryādāgneye kanyake śubhe

Translation

Di arah timur, pada lingkaran keempat, hendaklah benar‑benar dipersembahkan hormat kepada Mahākūrma (Kura‑kura Agung). Di arah tenggara, penjuru Agni, di dalam tempat suci yang mulia, hendaklah menunduk menyembah Varāha (jelmaan Babi Hutan).

Word by Word

• चतुर्थावरणे: in the fourth enclosure/covering
• चतुर्थावरणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर्थ + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; समास: चतुर्थ + आवरण (तत्पुरुष: ‘चतुर्थम् आवरणम्’)

• पूर्वे: in the east
• पूर्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; दिशि (in the east)

• महाकूर्माय: to Mahākūrma (Great Tortoise)
• महाकूर्माय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular; समास: महा + कूर्म (कर्मधारय: ‘महान् कूर्मः’)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् अव्यय-प्रयोगः; salutation formula

• वराहाय: to Varāha
• वराहाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dative singular

• नमस्कुर्यात्: should bow/salute
• नमस्कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; parasmaipada

• आग्नेये: in the south-east
• आग्नेये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular; दिशि (in the south-east / Agni corner)

• कन्यके: O maiden
• कन्यके: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular

• शुभे: O auspicious (one)
• शुभे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Vocative singular; विशेषणम् (of कन्यके)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sequential homage to avatāras as cosmic functions: Kūrma as support/stability; Varāha as restoration of dharma and earth.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s līlā as cosmic maintenance (sthiti) and restoration; the One appearing as many for loka-saṅgraha.

Application: Contemplate stability (Kūrma) and upliftment from decline (Varāha) during worship; align intentions with steadiness and dharma-restoration.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/mandala enclosure points (āvaraṇa + dik)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24 (āvaraṇa-krama and dik-krama of Viṣṇu forms)

Characters & Entities

• Mahakurma
• Varaha
• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of Mahākūrma and Varāha worship in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse prescribes specific salutations to Vishnu’s forms—Mahākūrma and Varāha—linking devotion with a structured ritual layout (enclosures and directions) used in traditional worship.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

It functions as an instruction for directional/sectional worship (āvaraṇa-wise), indicating where in a sacred arrangement one should offer namaskāra to particular deities or avatāras.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing Vishnu-puja or temple circumambulation, one can remember and honor Vishnu’s sustaining (Kūrma) and rescuing (Varāha) aspects with mindful salutations aligned to a disciplined ritual order.