Shloka 12

Worship (Pūjā): Vajra-nābha Maṇḍala Construction, Lotus-Seat Design, and Vaiṣṇava Nyāsa

Devanagari script

सिता रक्ता तथा पीता कृष्णा चैव यथाक्रमम् / कृत्वैव मण्डलञ्चादौ न्यासं कृत्वार्चयेद्धरिम्

Transliteration

sitā raktā tathā pītā kṛṣṇā caiva yathākramam / kṛtvaiva maṇḍalañcādau nyāsaṃ kṛtvārcayeddharim

Translation

శుక్ల, రక్త, పీత, కృష్ణ—ఈ వర్ణాలను యథాక్రమంగా తీసుకొని ముందుగా మండలాన్ని గీయాలి; తరువాత న్యాసం చేసి శ్రీహరిని ఆరాధించాలి।

Word by Word

• सिता: white
• सिता: Visheshya-Bhava (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (वर्णविशेषण)

• रक्ता: red
• रक्ता: Visheshya-Bhava (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• पीता: yellow
• पीता: Visheshya-Bhava (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृष्णा: black
• कृष्णा: Visheshya-Bhava (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• यथाक्रमम्: in due order
• यथाक्रमम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण

• मण्डलम्: the diagram/circle
• मण्डलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• आदौ: at the beginning
• आदौ: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (at first)

• न्यासम्: placement/nyāsa (ritual imposition)
• न्यासम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरिम्: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual sequence: establish sacred order (maṇḍala), internalize divinity (nyāsa), then offer worship to Hari.

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmin-bhāva (God within) approached through upāsanā; outer rite supports inner realization.

Application: Before prayer, create a consistent preparatory routine: orderly setup, brief body-mind centering (nyāsa-like placement/affirmations), then focused devotion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: pūjā-maṇḍala (ritual ground)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.13 (specific nyāsa placements of Vyūhas)

Characters & Entities

• Hari

FAQs

What is the importance of maṇḍala and nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places maṇḍala-drawing and nyāsa as the preparatory steps that sanctify the space and the worshipper before performing Hari-pūjā.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes disciplined ritual purity and correct procedure (ācāra) as foundational supports for dharma and spiritual progress taught in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any serious worship with orderly preparation—create a clean sacred space, follow a consistent sequence, and mentally ‘install’ the devotion (nyāsa-like focus) before prayer.