Shloka 18

Navavyūha-pūjāvidhi: Bhūta-śuddhi, Nyāsa, Yogapīṭha, Maṇḍala-racanā, Mudrā-prayoga

Devanagari script

ध्यात्वा वेदादिना पश्चात्सूर्यसोमानलात्मनाम् / मण्डलानि क्रमादेवमुपर्युपरि चिन्तयेत्

Transliteration

dhyātvā vedādinā paścātsūryasomānalātmanām / maṇḍalāni kramādevamuparyupari cintayet

Translation

ध्यात्वा वेदादिना पश्चात् सूर्यसोमानलात्मनाम् । मण्डलानि क्रमादेवम् उपर्युपरि चिन्तयेत् ॥

Word by Word

• dhyātvā: having meditated
• dhyātvā: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhyai (ध्यै)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वक्रिया

• veda-ādinā: by means of the Veda and the like
• veda-ādinā: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; ‘वेद-आदि’ = Veda etc.; instrument/means

• paścāt: afterwards
• paścāt: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• sūrya-soma-anala-ātmanām: of those whose essence is sun, moon, and fire
• sūrya-soma-anala-ātmanām: Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + soma (प्रातिपदिक) + anala (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘सूर्य-सोम-अनल-आत्मन्’ = whose nature is sun, moon, and fire; genitive dependent on maṇḍalāni

• maṇḍalāni: circles/discs
• maṇḍalāni: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; object of cintayet

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-प्रयोगे अव्ययीभाववत् (ablatival adverb): ‘क्रमात्’ = in order/stepwise

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• upari-upari: one above another
• upari-upari: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्त-अव्यय (reduplicated adverb): ‘one above another/above and above’

• cintayet: should contemplate/visualize
• cintayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (चिन्त्)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विधान

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplate successive mandalas of Sun, Moon, and Fire in ordered superimposition, following Vedic method—training the mind in graded subtlety and luminosity.

Vedantic Theme: From external supports (ālambana) to refined inner cognition; purification of mind (citta-śuddhi) through luminous archetypes.

Application: Practice a three-tier visualization: solar clarity (discernment), lunar coolness (calm), and inner fire (transformative attention), each placed ‘above’ the previous to refine awareness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic mandala layers (inner visualization)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.11.17 (lotus base); Garuda Purana 1.11.19 (directional śaktis of Keśava placed thereafter)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Soma (Chandra)
• Agni (Anala)

FAQs

What is the importance of contemplating the Sun, Moon, and Fire spheres in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a Veda-aligned contemplation sequence where Surya, Soma, and Agni are visualized as ascending mandalas, supporting inner purification and an ordered spiritual focus.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing post-death travel directly, it outlines a disciplined dhyāna method—progressive contemplation of higher spheres—often associated with subtle ascent and refinement of consciousness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use a step-by-step meditation: after a brief Vedic-style invocation or prayer, visualize the Sun, then the Moon, then Fire as increasingly higher centers of light, keeping attention steady and orderly.