Shloka 4

Gayā-māhātmya: Gayāsura, Viṣṇu’s Establishment, and the Fruits of Śrāddha at Gayā

Devanagari script

पात्यते ऽस्य महादेहो तथेत्यूचुः सुरा हरिम् / कदाचिच्छिवपूजार्थं क्षीराब्धेः कमलानि च

Transliteration

pātyate 'sya mahādeho tathetyūcuḥ surā harim / kadācicchivapūjārthaṃ kṣīrābdheḥ kamalāni ca

Translation

Sinabi ng mga diyos kay Hari: “Ang kanyang napakalaking katawan ay ibinabagsak na.” At minsan, upang sambahin si Śiva, nagdala rin sila ng mga lotus mula sa Karagatang Gatas (Kṣīrābdhi).

Word by Word

• पात्यते: is felled/is made to fall
• पात्यते: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः: ‘is made to fall/is felled’

• अस्य: of him/of this one
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचनम्

• महादेहः: the great body
• महादेहः: Karta (Subject of passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; समासः: महा-देह = ‘great body’

• तथा: so/thus
• तथा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus/so)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakyartha-marker (Quotation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (Speech verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्

• हरिम्: to Hari
• हरिम्: Karman (Object of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• कदाचित्: once/sometime
• कदाचित्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: at some time)

• शिवपूजार्थम्: for Śiva’s worship
• शिवपूजार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + पूजा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; समासः: शिव-पूजा-अर्थ = ‘for the purpose of Śiva-worship’ (accusative of purpose)

• क्षीराब्धेः: from/of the milk-ocean
• क्षीराब्धेः: Apadana/Sambandha (Source: from the milk-ocean)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षीर + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचनम्; समासः: क्षीर-अब्धि = ‘ocean of milk’

• कमलानि: lotuses
• कमलानि: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्; here object (to be taken) implied

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

Speaker

Devas (Suras) speaking to Hari (Lord Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional worship (pūjā) employs pure offerings; divine purposes unfold through ritual acts and sacred materials.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā as purifier; unity-in-diversity of īśvara worship (Viṣṇu-context yet Śiva-pūjā).

Application: Offer the best available (symbolic ‘lotus’—purity, sincerity) in worship; treat ritual as a means to align intention and action with dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic ocean

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.82.3 (Hari’s instruction involving Śiva-nature); Continuation of Gayāsura episode (implied)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Suras (Devas)
• Shiva
• Kshira-sagara (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

What is the importance of lotus offerings for Shiva worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames lotus-flowers (kamalāni) as a deliberate sacred offering gathered even from the Ocean of Milk, highlighting the purity and intentionality expected in Śiva-pūjā.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

This specific verse does not address the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a narrative exchange involving the Devas and Hari and mentions Śiva-worship and ritual offerings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach worship and vows with sincerity and purity of materials and intent—offer what is clean, fitting, and thoughtfully obtained rather than merely convenient.