Shloka 19

Devanagari script

आधाराख्यां महादेव ततः कूर्मं समर्चयेत् / अनन्तं पृथिवीं पश्चाद्धर्मज्ञाने(नौ) ततो ऽचयेत्

Transliteration

ādhārākhyāṃ mahādeva tataḥ kūrmaṃ samarcayet / anantaṃ pṛthivīṃ paścāddharmajñāne(nau) tato 'cayet

Translation

اے مہادیو! پہلے ‘آدھار’ نامی تَتْو کی پوجا کرے، پھر विधی کے ساتھ کُورْم کی۔ اس کے بعد اَنَنت اور پھر پِرتھوی کی پوجا کر کے، دھرم-گیان کے ساتھ مقررہ اَर्पن/وِنیاس انجام دے۔

Word by Word

• आधाराख्याम्: (the one) named ‘Ādhāra’
• आधाराख्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आधार-आख्या (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; आधारस्य आख्या इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; विशेषणम्

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (आह्वान), एकवचन; महाश्चासौ देवश्चेति कर्मधारयः

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (thereafter)

• कूर्मम्: the Tortoise (Kūrma)
• कूर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• समर्चयेत्: should worship
• समर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सम्यक् अर्चयेत् = should worship

• अनन्तम्: Ananta
• अनन्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• पृथिवीम्: the Earth
• पृथिवीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम् (afterwards)

• धर्मज्ञानेनौ: dharma and knowledge (two)
• धर्मज्ञानेनौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म-ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: द्विवचन-रूपम्; साधारणतः नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; धर्मस्य ज्ञानं इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः; पाठभेद/सन्धि-समस्या: ‘धर्मज्ञानेनौ’ इति द्विवचनं (धर्मं च ज्ञानं च) वा ‘धर्मज्ञानयोः’ इत्यर्थे द्वन्द्व-भावः सम्भाव्यः

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमवाचक क्रियाविशेषणम्

• अचयेत्: should worship (reading likely: arcyet)
• अचयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च्/चि? (धातु; पाठदोष-सम्भावना)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; पाठभेदः—‘अर्चयेत्’ अपेक्षितम् (should worship). ‘अचयेत्’ इति रूपं संदिग्धम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual must be performed in a correct cosmological order, guided by dharma-jñāna (right understanding).

Vedantic Theme: Adhiṣṭhāna (substratum) and ordered manifestation; aligning microcosmic ritual with macrocosmic structure.

Application: In any pūjā/mandala practice, begin with ‘grounding’ (ādhāra), then stabilize the visualization with world-support symbols before offerings; cultivate dharma-informed intentionality rather than mechanical performance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space/mandala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34 (mandala/nyasa-style worship sequence; subsequent verses on directions, guṇas, and solar-lunar-fire mandalas)

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva
• Kurma
• Ananta
• Prithivi

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Ādhāra, Kūrma, Ananta, and Pṛthivī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a ritual order that honors the cosmic ‘supports’—principles/forms associated with stability and sustaining power—before proceeding to the next prescribed rite with dharmic understanding.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on dharma and ritual correctness?

It links ritual action to dharma-jñāna, indicating that worship is not merely mechanical; the rite should be performed with awareness of dharma and proper sequencing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In any worship or memorial rite, follow a clear, traditional sequence and pair it with ethical intent (dharma-jñāna): purity of conduct and correct procedure are meant to go together.