Shloka 17

Devanagari script

श्रीरस्त्रं वास्त्वधिपतिं ब्रह्माणं च गणं गुरुम् / शक्त्यनन्तौ यजेन्मध्ये पूर्वादौ धर्ंमकादिकम्

Transliteration

śrīrastraṃ vāstvadhipatiṃ brahmāṇaṃ ca gaṇaṃ gurum / śaktyanantau yajenmadhye pūrvādau dharṃmakādikam

Translation

พึงบูชาพระศรี เทพผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งวาสตุ พระพรหม หมู่คณะเทวะ (คณะคณา) และพระคุรุ กลางมณฑลบูชาศักติและอนันตะ แล้วเริ่มจากทิศตะวันออกบูชาธรรมะและเทพอื่น ๆ ตามลำดับ

Word by Word

• श्रीः: Śrī (prosperity/goddess)
• श्रीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अस्त्रम्: weapon (astra)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वास्त्वधिपतिम्: the lord of the dwelling/site (Vāstvadhipati)
• वास्त्वधिपतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वास्तोः अधिपतिः)

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• गणम्: the gaṇa/attendant group
• गणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गुरुम्: the teacher/guru
• गुरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शक्त्यनन्तौ: Śakti and Ananta
• शक्त्यनन्तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• पूर्वादौ: in the east and the other directions
• पूर्वादौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत्-प्रयोग (पूर्वादिषु = in the eastern etc. directions)

• धर्मकादिकम्: Dharmaka and the others (etc.)
• धर्मकादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहारार्थ (and the rest beginning with Dharmaka)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right ordering of worship mirrors right ordering of cosmos; the sacred space becomes a microcosm where Dharma begins in the East and the center is upheld by Śakti and Ananta (support/continuity).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-upāsanā as antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi; the world as a structured manifestation sustained by śakti and ananta (infinite ground).

Application: When beginning any sādhana, first ‘set the space’: invoke auspiciousness (Śrī), acknowledge the place (vāstu), honor lineage (guru), then proceed methodically (directional order) to reduce mental scatter.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground/temple-plan (vāstu)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.16–20 (continuous nyāsa/āvaraṇa-pūjā sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī
• Vāstvadhipati (Vāstu-devatā/Vāstupuruṣa)
• Brahmā
• Gaṇas
• Guru
• Śakti
• Ananta (Śeṣa)
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Vāstvadhipati in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places Vāstvadhipati among the primary beings to be worshipped, indicating that harmonizing the sacred space (vāstu) is foundational before invoking other deities and dharmic principles.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

While much of the Garuda Purana addresses dharma and post-death consequences, this verse emphasizes correct ritual order and sanctification of space—supporting dharma through disciplined worship and proper invocation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin any serious worship or rite by first establishing auspiciousness (Śrī), honoring the space (vāstu), and maintaining dharmic order—i.e., clarity of intention, respect for teacher/tradition (guru), and disciplined sequencing rather than random improvisation.