Shloka 14

Mantra-Nyāsa and Elemental Maṇḍalas: Nāga Invocation and Garuḍa–Bhairava Dhyāna for Protection

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठादिकनिष्ठान्तमनुलोमविलोमतः / पर्वसन्धिषु च न्यस्या जया च विजया तथा

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhādikaniṣṭhāntamanulomavilomataḥ / parvasandhiṣu ca nyasyā jayā ca vijayā tathā

Translation

ตั้งแต่นิ้วหัวแม่มือถึงนิ้วก้อย พึงทำตามลำดับไป-กลับ แล้ววางนยาสะ ณ ข้อปล้องและรอยต่อของนิ้วทั้งหลาย; พร้อมทั้งอาวาหนะ ‘ชยา’ และ ‘วิชยา’ ด้วยเช่นกัน।

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठ: from the thumb
• अङ्गुष्ठ: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• आदि: etc./beginning with
• आदि: Modifier (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: आद्यार्थक अव्यय (etc./beginning with) समासाङ्ग

• कनिष्ठा: of the little finger
• कनिष्ठा: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• अन्तम्: up to the end (at the little finger)
• अन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः: अङ्गुष्ठ-आदि-कनिष्ठा-अन्त (तत्पुरुष: ‘ending at the little finger’)

• अनुलोम: in forward order
• अनुलोम: Instrument/Mode (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुलोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• विलोमतः: and in reverse order (alternately)
• विलोमतः: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विलोम (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: ‘from/according to’); समासः: अनुलोम-विलोम-तस् (द्वन्द्व-समास + तस्)

• पर्व: of joints/segments
• पर्व: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समासाङ्ग

• सन्धिषु: in the joint-points
• सन्धिषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः: पर्व-सन्धि (तत्पुरुष: ‘joint-junctions’)

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

• न्यस्या: having placed
• न्यस्या: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु: न्यस्) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/त्वान्त-समकक्ष); ‘having placed’

• जया: Jayā
• जया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

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

• विजया: Vijayā
• विजया: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Modifier (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: thus/likewise)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nyāsa as devotional embodiment—placing sacred power onto limbs to make action itself an offering and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā through śarīra-adhyāropa: using the body as altar to steady mind; sandhi (junctions) as liminal points needing awareness.

Application: Before japa/pūjā, perform karanyāsa: touch thumb-to-little-finger joints in prescribed order and reverse; mentally install protective ‘Jayā’ and ‘Vijayā’ at key junctions to cultivate steadiness and resolve.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: body-mandala (aṅga/karanyāsa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.197.14–15: karanyāsa and aṅga-nyāsa instructions; continuity with earlier elemental placements

Characters & Entities

• Jayā
• Vijayā

FAQs

What is the importance of finger-nyāsa (kara-nyāsa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes placing the mantra on the finger joints in both forward and reverse order, indicating a protective and completeness-oriented ritual preparation before recitation or rite.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices around protection and rites?

By instructing a precise nyāsa sequence and invoking Jayā and Vijayā (victory-form energies), the text emphasizes ritual safeguarding and successful completion of the intended observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When doing traditional mantra practice or ancestral rites, follow an orderly, mindful procedure—step-by-step placement and invocation—so the practice is focused, reverent, and free from haste.