Shloka 43

Devanagari script

पद्माङ्कितं द्विविंशतिककोटिविस्तीर्णमौ स्मरेत् / चतुर्नवत्युच्छ्रयं च आत्मानं च अधोमुखम्

Transliteration

padmāṅkitaṃ dviviṃśatikakoṭivistīrṇamau smaret / caturnavatyucchrayaṃ ca ātmānaṃ ca adhomukham

Translation

ఆ లోకాన్ని పద్మచిహ్నాలతో ముద్రితమై, ఇరవై కోటి-కోటుల మేర విస్తరించినదిగా స్మరించాలి. అలాగే తనను తాను అధోముఖంగా, తొంభై నాలుగు (ప్రమాణ) ఎత్తుగా ధ్యానించాలి.

Word by Word

• पद्माङ्कितम्: marked with a lotus
• पद्माङ्कितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + अङ्कित (कृदन्त; अङ्क्/अङ्कय् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण

• द्विविंशतिककोटिविस्तीर्णम्: spread/extended to twenty crores (in extent)
• द्विविंशतिककोटिविस्तीर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + विंशति + क + कोटि + विस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त; स्तॄ/स्तृ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष, भूतकृदन्त (क्त) विशेषण

• औ: (particle; textual)
• औ: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (अव्यय/पाठभेद)
• Form: पाठे निपात/उद्गार-रूपेण; अर्थे ‘अथ/ह’ इव (uncertain particle)

• स्मरेत्: should remember/visualize
• स्मरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चतुर्नवत्युच्छ्रयम्: a height of ninety-four
• चतुर्नवत्युच्छ्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुः + नवति + उच्छ्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (चतुर्नवति-उच्छ्रयः)

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

• आत्मानम्: oneself/the self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अधोमुखम्: facing downward
• अधोमुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधस् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (अधो मुखं यस्य/अधोमुख) विशेषण

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The meditator situates the self within an immense ordered field, training the mind to hold scale, symbol, and self-position without distraction.

Vedantic Theme: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence (piṇḍa–brahmāṇḍa) as a contemplative aid; de-centering ego through scale and orientation.

Application: During visualization, first stabilize the lotus-marked field (mandala), then place the ‘sense of I’ as an observed form (height/orientation), reducing identification with transient body-mind.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner mandala-kshetra (visualized space)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.42 (throat-lotus half-moon mandala); Garuda Purana 1.23.44-45 (palate lotus, devatās, color/triangle/flame form)

FAQs

What is the importance of lotus-marked imagery in Garuda Purana descriptions?

In this verse, lotus-marking functions as a sacred identifier of the contemplated realm, guiding visualization with auspicious, purity-associated symbolism.

How does this verse explain the path or condition of the soul?

It frames an after-death-style contemplation where the self is visualized as ‘facing downward’ (adhomukha), indicating an altered orientation/condition of the embodied self in a described expanse.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to cultivate disciplined remembrance (smaraṇa) and ethical living, so the mind remains steady and clear in transitional states.