Shloka 36

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

पठेदिति च विद्याश्च कुर्यादालम्भनं बुधः / योगेयोगेति मन्त्रेणास्तरणं शाद्वलैः कुशैः

Transliteration

paṭhediti ca vidyāśca kuryādālambhanaṃ budhaḥ / yogeyogeti mantreṇāstaraṇaṃ śādvalaiḥ kuśaiḥ

Translation

ஞானி விதிக்கப்பட்ட வித்யா/மந்திரங்களைப் பாராயணம் செய்து ஆலம்பனக் கிரியையையும் செய்ய வேண்டும். ‘யோகே யோகே’ மந்திரத்தால் பசும்புல் (சாத்வல) மற்றும் குசப்புல்லால் ஆசனத்தை விரிக்க வேண்டும்.

Word by Word

• पठेत्: should recite
• पठेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पठ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-चिह्न/quotative particle

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

• विद्याः: the vidyā-mantras/rites
• विद्याः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन

• च: also
• च: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/conjunction

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आलम्भनम्: supporting/fastening act; a supporting rite
• आलम्भनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + लम्भ् (धातु) + अन (कृत्) → आलम्भन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• बुधः: the wise person
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• योगे: in/at (the word) 'yoge'
• योगे: Sambandha (मन्त्रपद/Quoted word)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; मन्त्रपद-रूप (in the formula)

• योगे: (again) 'yoge'
• योगे: Sambandha (मन्त्रपद/Quoted word)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition in mantra)

• इति: thus
• इति: Quotation marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण-चिह्न/quotative particle

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• आस्तरणम्: spreading/covering (a layer)
• आस्तरणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आस्तरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शाद्वलैः: with turf/grass clods
• शाद्वलैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाद्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• कुशैः: with kuśa grass
• कुशैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately before sustained worship/japa and offerings; as part of preparatory aṅga-karmas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ālambhana (supporting rite) and āsana-stharaṇa: bodily steadiness and ritual supports are integral to correct performance.

Vedantic Theme: External steadiness (āsana, niyama) supports internal steadiness (ekāgratā), enabling higher contemplation though expressed here as ritual discipline.

Application: Prepare a clean, natural-fiber seat (kuśa/grass mat) and complete preliminaries before mantra/japa; avoid rushing into the main rite without supports.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-implement placement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48.32-35 (kalaśa, purification, directional rites, vāstu-śānti, bali)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of using kuśa grass and turf in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse treats kuśa and fresh turf as a proper ritual base (āstaraṇa), supporting purity, steadiness, and correct ceremonial setup for mantra-recitation and auxiliary rites.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana death rituals and dharmic procedure?

It gives a procedural instruction: recitation of vidyās (sacred formulas) along with an ālambana (supporting rite), and preparing a consecrated seat with the ‘yoge yoge’ mantra—typical of dharmic preparations used in śrāddha and related observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional rites (especially śrāddha or purification rituals), follow a disciplined sequence: chant the prescribed mantras and prepare a clean, sanctified seat or space—symbolizing attentiveness and ritual correctness.