Shloka 16

Worship (Pūjā): Vajra-nābha Maṇḍala Construction, Lotus-Seat Design, and Vaiṣṇava Nyāsa

Devanagari script

श्रीधरं रुद्रकोणेषु इन्द्रादीन्दिक्षु विन्यसेत् / ततो ऽभ्यर्च्य च गन्धाद्यैः प्राप्नुयात्परमं पदम्

Transliteration

śrīdharaṃ rudrakoṇeṣu indrādīndikṣu vinyaset / tato 'bhyarcya ca gandhādyaiḥ prāpnuyātparamaṃ padam

Translation

रुद्रकोणेषु श्रीधरं न्यसेदिन्द्रादिदिक्षु च विन्यसेत् । ततः गन्धादिभिरभ्यर्च्य परं पदं प्राप्नुयात्॥

Word by Word

• श्रीधरम्: Śrīdhara
• श्रीधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• रुद्रकोणेषु: in the Rudra-corners (NE etc.)
• रुद्रकोणेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र + कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रुद्रस्य कोणाः)

• इन्द्रादीन्: Indra and others
• इन्द्रादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रः आदिः येषाम्)

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• विन्यसेत्: should arrange/place
• विन्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनन्तर (adverb: 'then/thereafter')

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); अर्थः—‘having worshipped’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• गन्धाद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्धाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (गन्धः आदिः येषाम्)

• प्राप्नुयात्: may attain
• प्राप्नुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पदम् इति विशेष्य)

• पदम्: state; abode
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When the deity is installed in all directions and worshipped with upacāras (fragrance etc.), the devotee becomes fit for the ‘supreme state’ (paramaṃ padam).

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana leading from ritual purity to transcendental goal; devotion as a means to the highest end (bhakti as mokṣa-sādhana).

Application: Complete dik-nyāsa including corners; offer gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa with focused mind; dedicate fruits of worship to Hari.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure / dik-mandala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.14-15 (nyāsa sequence); Garuda Purana 1.9.1 (homa with mūla-mantra as allied practice)

Characters & Entities

• Śrīdhara (Vishnu)
• Rudra
• Indra
• Dikpālas (directional deities)

FAQs

What is the importance of directional placement (dik-nyāsa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links arranging Śrīdhara with the sacred directions and their presiding deities to a complete, properly ordered worship that culminates in spiritual elevation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing punishments or afterlife geography, it presents devotion and correct worship of Viṣṇu (Śrīdhara) as a direct means to reach the “supreme state” (parama padam).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Viṣṇu-focused worship with mindful arrangement and simple offerings like fragrance, emphasizing devotion and disciplined ritual as supports for inner purification and liberation-oriented living.