Shloka 6

Gopāla-pūjāvidhi: Maṇḍala, Dik-devatā, Mantra-aṅga, and Āyudha Installation

Devanagari script

अनन्तं पृथिवीं धर्मं ज्ञानं वैराग्यमग्नितः / ऐश्वर्यं वायुपूर्वं च प्रकाशात्मानमुत्तरे

Transliteration

anantaṃ pṛthivīṃ dharmaṃ jñānaṃ vairāgyamagnitaḥ / aiśvaryaṃ vāyupūrvaṃ ca prakāśātmānamuttare

Translation

దక్షిణంలో అనంతుడు, పడమరలో పృథివి, తూర్పులో ధర్మం స్థితి చెందాయి. అగ్ని దిశ నుండి జ్ఞానం, వైరాగ్యం; వాయు దిశ నుండి ఐశ్వర్యం; ఉత్తరంలో ప్రకాశస్వరూప ఆత్మ ఉంది.

Word by Word

• अनन्तम्: Ananta (deity)
• अनन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पृथिवीम्: Earth (Pṛthivī)
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• धर्मम्: Dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वैराग्यम्: dispassion
• वैराग्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अग्नितः: from the Agni side (SE)
• अग्नितः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb); ‘अग्नि’ + तः = ‘from the Agni (direction)’

• ऐश्वर्यम्: sovereignty/prosperity
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वायुपूर्वम्: beginning with Vāyu
• वायुपूर्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘preceded by Vāyu’/beginning with Vāyu)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रकाशात्मानम्: Prakāśātmā (luminous-souled one)
• प्रकाशात्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (प्रकाशः आत्मा यस्य/प्रकाश-आत्मा = ‘luminous self’)

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world and the seeker can be read as a mandala of principles culminating in the luminous Self; jñāna and vairāgya arise through transformative ‘fire’, and aiśvarya through ‘wind’—energetic mastery.

Vedantic Theme: Ātman as self-luminous (svayaṃ-prakāśa); movement from dharma to jñāna-vairāgya toward inner illumination; relative powers (aiśvarya) are subordinate to Self-knowledge.

Application: Use directional contemplation: ground in dharma (east), purify through disciplined ‘fire’ (austerity/clarity) to gain jñāna and vairāgya, regulate prāṇa (‘wind’) for steadiness, and meditate on the luminous witnessing Self (north).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmological-ritual map (dik-tattva mapping)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.28 (tattva-dik mapping continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Prithivi
• Dharma
• Agni
• Vayu

FAQs

What is the importance of directions and their presiding principles in the Garuda Purana?

This verse maps directions to cosmic principles—Dharma, Earth, Fire (as the source of knowledge and dispassion), Wind (as power), and the northern ideal of the luminous Self—showing how the universe is read as a spiritual order, not merely geography.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By linking Agni with jñāna and vairāgya and pointing to the northern ‘Self of light,’ the verse implies that inner purification through knowledge and detachment culminates in realization of the luminous ātman—an orientation toward moksha rather than mere worldly power.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate jñāna (study, discernment) and vairāgya (reduced attachment) as the ‘fire’ that burns confusion, use power responsibly (aiśvarya under vāyu), and keep the goal of inner clarity—prakāśa-ātman—central in daily choices.