Shloka 12

Devanagari script

अग्निशास्त्र परायुस्थो त्दृदयादिगणोच्यते / अस्त्रं दिशा सुपद्मस्य कर्णिकायां सदाशिवः

Transliteration

agniśāstra parāyustho tdṛdayādigaṇocyate / astraṃ diśā supadmasya karṇikāyāṃ sadāśivaḥ

Translation

अग्निशास्त्रे परायुस्थो हृदयादिगणः स्मृतः। अस्त्रं दिशा, सुपद्मस्य कर्णिकायां सदाशिवः॥

Word by Word

• अग्निशास्त्र: Agni-weapon (agni-śāstra)
• अग्निशास्त्र: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘agni-weapon/mantra-weapon’

• परायुःस्थः: situated in the parāyus (supreme life)
• परायुःस्थः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘situated in/at the supreme life (parāyus)’ (स्थानवाचक)

• हृदयादिगणः: the group beginning with ‘hṛdaya’
• हृदयादिगणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘group beginning with hṛdaya’ (आदि-समास)

• उच्यते: is said/is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (astra)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दिशा: by (the) direction
• दिशा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘by/with the direction’ (instrumental)

• सुपद्मस्य: of the auspicious/beautiful lotus
• सुपद्मस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्गार्थ) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सुन्दरं पद्मम्

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

• सदाशिवः: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा (अव्यय) + शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—सदा शिवः (proper name)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-energies (hṛdaya etc.) and directional ‘astra’ are structured emanations; the supreme principle (Sadāśiva) abides at the unmoving center.

Vedantic Theme: Center-and-periphery metaphysics: the One as adhāra (substratum) of functional powers; movement of śakti grounded in still consciousness.

Application: In complex action, keep a ‘center’—a stable inner witness—while letting tools and directions operate at the periphery.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.22.8 (śakti-nyāsa); Garuda Purana 1.22.10 (lotus-womb maṇḍala)

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśiva
• Agniśāstra

FAQs

What is the importance of the lotus (padma) and its pericarp (karṇikā) in this Garuda Purana verse?

The verse uses the lotus as a sacred diagram: the central pericarp is presented as the seat of Sadāśiva, indicating the highest presiding principle placed at the spiritual center.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings beyond death and afterlife topics?

It reflects the Purāṇa’s broader scope: alongside afterlife and rites, it also preserves mantra-vidyā and symbolic mappings (directions, centers like hṛdaya) used in worship and protective practices.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to keep one’s spiritual “center” pure—placing the highest ideal at the core of practice—while approaching mantra/ritual techniques only through qualified traditional guidance.