Shloka 21

Devanagari script

सत्त्वं रजस्तमश्चैव मध्यदेशे ऽथ पूजयेत् / कन्दं नालं च पद्मं च मध्ये चैव प्रपूजयेत्

Transliteration

sattvaṃ rajastamaścaiva madhyadeśe 'tha pūjayet / kandaṃ nālaṃ ca padmaṃ ca madhye caiva prapūjayet

Translation

తర్వాత మధ్యదేశంలో సత్త్వం, రజస్సు, తమస్సును పూజించాలి. అలాగే అదే మధ్యలో కందం (మూలం), నాళం (కాండం) మరియు పద్మం (కమలం)ను కూడా విధిగా పూజించాలి.

Word by Word

• सत्त्वम्: sattva (purity)
• सत्त्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• रजः: rajas (activity)
• रजः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (रजः)

• तमः: tamas (inertia)
• तमः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन (तमः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (indeed/only)

• मध्यदेशे: in the middle region
• मध्यदेशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यदेश (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; मध्यस्य देशः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• अथ: then
• अथ: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमार्थक

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कन्दम्: the bulb/root (kanda)
• कन्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• नालम्: the stalk (nāla)
• नालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• पद्मम्: the lotus
• पद्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• मध्ये: in the center
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन (मध्ये)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Linker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• प्रपूजयेत्: should worship specially
• प्रपूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; विशेषेण पूजयेत्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas) constitute the operative field of prakṛti; the lotus-center imagery encodes the subtle structure of manifestation and consciousness-seat.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-traya as binding factors of saṃsāra; movement toward sattva as preparatory to knowledge; microcosm-macrocosm correspondence (piṇḍa-brahmāṇḍa).

Application: Use the mandala/meditation center to observe which guṇa dominates; cultivate sattva through diet, conduct, and study; visualize the lotus (kanda-nāla-padma) as a stable inner seat for japa/dhyāna.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mandala-center

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.20 (qualities and opposites in directions); Garuda Purana 1.34.22 (central worship of arka-soma-agni mandalas)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the three guṇas as worthy of recognition and ritual honor in the “central region,” indicating a practice of integrating and regulating the forces of nature (prakṛti) rather than ignoring them.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By directing worship to the guṇas and the lotus components (kanda–nāla–padma), the verse points to an inner, subtle-body framework where purification and balance support higher spiritual ascent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate sattva (clarity) while disciplining rajas (restlessness) and tamas (inertia), using daily worship/meditation as a method to stabilize the mind and align actions with dharma.