Shloka 13

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

आत्मपूजां ततः कुर्याद्रन्धपुष्पादिभिः शुभैः / आवाह्य पूजयेत्सर्वा देवता आसनस्य याः

Transliteration

ātmapūjāṃ tataḥ kuryādrandhapuṣpādibhiḥ śubhaiḥ / āvāhya pūjayetsarvā devatā āsanasya yāḥ

Translation

आत्मपूजां ततः कुर्याद् गन्धपुष्पादिभिः शुभैः। आवाह्य पूजयेत् सर्वा देवता आसनसंश्रिताः॥

Word by Word

• आत्म-पूजाम्: self-worship
• आत्म-पूजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; समासः: तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः पूजा)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thereafter)

• कुर्यात्: should perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातु: कृ (to do)

• गन्ध-पुष्प-आदिभिः: with perfumes, flowers, etc.
• गन्ध-पुष्प-आदिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (समाहारार्थे), तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्; समासः: तत्पुरुषः (गन्धपुष्पादयः)

• शुभैः: auspicious
• शुभैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (गन्धपुष्पादिभिः इत्यस्य)

• आवाह्य: having invoked
• आवाह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+वह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; धातु: वह् (to bring), उपसर्ग: आ; अर्थः: having invoked/brought near

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातु: पूज् (to worship)

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• आसनस्य: of the seat
• आसनस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचनम्

• याः: who (those which)
• याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; सम्बन्धे (who/which)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual internalization: worship of the self as divine locus, with auspicious offerings and invocation of associated deities to complete the sādhana.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga/upāsanā as mind-purification; sacralizing action so that the doer becomes fit for higher knowledge.

Application: Before meditation: prepare a clean seat, offer flowers/incense mentally or physically, perform brief ātma-pūjā (nyāsa + offering of fragrance/flowers), then invoke and honor the protective/seat deities as per one’s tradition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual seat (āsana) and its devatā-maṇḍala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.11 (śodhana preliminaries); Garuda Purana 1.31.9-10 (dhyāna form as pūjā’s object)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the importance of ātma-pūjā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes inner sanctification—worship of the Self—before proceeding with further rites, indicating that ritual purity begins with inward alignment and reverence.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames dharmic practice as disciplined ritual and inner purity—foundational attitudes that the Garuda Purana connects with merit (puṇya) and a steadier spiritual course.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any prayer or rite with a moment of inward recollection, then perform offerings with cleanliness and intention, honoring the sanctity of the worship space and its invoked divinities.