Shloka 43

Ācāra-Nirṇaya: Varṇa-Āśrama Dharma, Śauca, Snāna, Sandhyā, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and Gṛhastha-Dinacaryā

Devanagari script

खं मुखे नासिके वायुं नेत्रे सूर्यं श्रुती (तीर्दि) दिशः / प्राणग्रन्थिमथो नाभिं ब्रह्माणं हृदये स्पृशेत्

Transliteration

khaṃ mukhe nāsike vāyuṃ netre sūryaṃ śrutī (tīrdi) diśaḥ / prāṇagranthimatho nābhiṃ brahmāṇaṃ hṛdaye spṛśet

Translation

ముఖములో ఆకాశమును, నాసికలలో వాయువును, నేత్రాలలో సూర్యుని, కర్ణాలలో దిక్కులను ధ్యానించాలి; తరువాత ప్రాణగ్రంథి, నాభిని స్పృశించి హృదయంలో బ్రహ్మను విన్యసించాలి।

Word by Word

• खम्: space/ether
• खम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• मुखे: in the mouth
• मुखे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• नासिके: in the nose
• नासिके: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• वायुम्: wind/breath
• वायुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• नेत्रे: in the eye(s)
• नेत्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (द्विनेत्रयोः अर्थे स्थानवाचक)

• सूर्यम्: the sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• श्रुती: the two ears
• श्रुती: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), द्विवचन (कर्णयोः)

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• प्राणग्रन्थिम्: the knot of prāṇa (vital knot)
• प्राणग्रन्थिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रन्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्राणस्य ग्रन्थिः)

• अथो: then/and then
• अथो: Sambandha (Discourse connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय) + उ (निपात)
• Form: निपात/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (then/and then)

• नाभिम्: the navel
• नाभिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• हृदये: in the heart
• हृदये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devatā-bhūta-nyāsa: contemplate space, wind, sun, directions, prāṇa-knot, navel, and Brahmā in the heart as an internal consecration.

Vedantic Theme: Piṇḍa–brahmāṇḍa-sāmya (microcosm–macrocosm correspondence) supporting concentration and purity of mind.

Application: During morning practice, perform mental nyāsa: place attention sequentially on mouth/nose/eyes/ears, then prāṇa-granthi, nābhi, and heart; use steady breath and visualization.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.213.44–46 (continuation of aṅga-nyāsa and purification)

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Brahma
• Dikpalas (Directions)
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of mapping elements to sense-organs in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches an inner ritual (nyāsa/dhāraṇā) where the practitioner aligns sense-organs with cosmic principles, turning external worship into subtle-body purification and concentration.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing prāṇa, the heart, and the ‘vital knot’ (prāṇa-granthi), it points to the subtle-body framework through which consciousness and life-force are understood to operate—central to Garuda Purana discussions on death, transition, and inner disciplines.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a brief contemplative scan: steady the breath (vāyu), focus the gaze softly (sūrya principle), listen inwardly (directions in ears), and settle awareness in the heart—supporting calmness, ethical clarity, and disciplined ritual practice.