Shloka 2

Upāsanā-krama: Maṇḍala-rakṣā, Dvāra-devatā-sthāpana, Lotus-Cosmology, and Aniruddha-Nārāyaṇa Pūjā

Devanagari script

सामान्यमण्डलं न्यस्य धातारं द्वारदेशतः / विधातारं तथा गङ्गां यमुनां च महानदीम्

Transliteration

sāmānyamaṇḍalaṃ nyasya dhātāraṃ dvāradeśataḥ / vidhātāraṃ tathā gaṅgāṃ yamunāṃ ca mahānadīm

Translation

เมื่อวางมณฑลทั่วไปเพื่อคุ้มครองแล้ว ให้ตั้งพระธาตฤที่บริเวณประตู; เช่นเดียวกันให้ตั้งพระวิธาตฤ และอัญเชิญสถาปนาแม่น้ำคงคา ยมุนา และมหานทีอันยิ่งใหญ่.

Word by Word

• सामान्यमण्डलम्: a general/common maṇḍala (diagram)
• सामान्यमण्डलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सामान्यं मण्डलम्); कर्म

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु) + ल्यप्/क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• धातारम्: Dhātā (deity)
• धातारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• द्वारदेशतः: at/from the doorway area
• द्वारदेशतः: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक) + देश (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्ययीभाव-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb)

• विधातारम्: Vidhātā (deity)
• विधातारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• गङ्गाम्: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

• यमुनाम्: Yamunā
• यमुनाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्म

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

• महानदीम्: the great river (Mahānadī)
• महानदीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती नदी); कर्म

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical Garuda Purana dialogue framework; chapter-level context may vary by recension)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual order begins with protective mandala and placement of guardian/creator powers at the doorway, along with tirtha-invocation for purity.

Vedantic Theme: Outer purity and ordered worship as supports for inner steadiness (antahkarana-shuddhi) enabling devotion and knowledge.

Application: Before worship, prepare a clean, bounded space; begin with protective prayers and invoke purifying tirthas (mentally or with water) to steady attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (griha/mandapa/temple threshold)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.126: subsequent placements (Dvarashri, Vastupurusha, Adharashakti, Kurma, Ananta) continue the mandala/nyasa scheme

Characters & Entities

• Dhātṛ
• Vidhātṛ
• Gaṅgā
• Yamunā
• Mahānadī

FAQs

What is the importance of placing a maṇḍala at the doorway in the Garuda Purana?

The verse indicates a protective and sanctifying setup: the maṇḍala and divine placements at the threshold function as ritual guardianship and purification for the rite being performed.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and the soul’s journey?

Garuda Purana rites often begin with protective and purificatory installations; invoking Dhātṛ/Vidhātṛ and sacred rivers frames the ritual space as spiritually safeguarded, supporting subsequent śrāddha or related observances meant to aid the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any solemn rite (especially ancestral or memorial worship), begin with a clear, orderly, and reverent preparation of space—invoking protection, purity, and right intention.