Shloka 87

Devanagari script

अग्न आयाहि जङ्घे द्वे शन्नोदेवीति जानुनी / बृहद्रथन्तरे ऊरू उदरेष्वातिलो (स्वातिनो) न्यसेत्

Transliteration

agna āyāhi jaṅghe dve śannodevīti jānunī / bṛhadrathantare ūrū udareṣvātilo (svātino) nyaset

Translation

“اَگن آیہی” کا ورد کرتے ہوئے دونوں پنڈلیوں پر نیاس کرے؛ “شَنّو دیوی” سے گھٹنوں پر؛ “بِرہَد” اور “رَتھَنتَر” سے رانوں پر؛ اور پیٹ پر “آتِلو” یا “سواتِنو” کا نیاس کرے۔

Word by Word

• अग्ने: O Agni
• अग्ने: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• आयाहि: come (hither)
• आयाहि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जङ्घे: the two shanks
• जङ्घे: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जङ्घा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), द्विवचन

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-रूप, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• शन्नोदेवीति: “śam no devī” (as a mantra), thus
• शन्नोदेवीति: Vacana/Mantra-udaharana (Quotation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शम् (अव्यय/निपात) + नः (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + देवी (प्रातिपदिक) + इति (अव्यय)
• Form: मन्त्रपद-उद्धरणम्; इति-प्रयोगः (quotative particle)

• जानुनी: the two knees
• जानुनी: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), द्विवचन

• बृहद्रथन्तरे: in (the mantras) Bṛhat and Rathantara
• बृहद्रथन्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक) + रथन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (बृहत्-रथन्तरयोः)

• ऊरू: the two thighs
• ऊरू: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2/कर्म), द्विवचन

• उदरेषु: in the belly/abdomen (regions)
• उदरेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7/अधिकरण), बहुवचन

• आतिलो: Ātilo (name/mantra-deity)
• आतिलो: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आतिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1/कर्ता), एकवचन; (मन्त्र/देवता-नाम)

• स्वातिनः: of Svātin (variant reading)
• स्वातिनः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; (पाठान्तर/विकल्प)

• न्यसेत्: should place/assign (nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्/न्यस् (धातु) + नि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/विधान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nyāsa: sanctifying the body by assigning Vedic mantras to specific limbs, making the practitioner fit for worship/installation.

Vedantic Theme: Adhyāsa-apavāda style sacralization: the body is superimposed as a divine seat to steady mind and prāṇa for upāsanā.

Application: Use stepwise nyāsa with clear limb-to-mantra mapping; maintain attention on each placement to reduce distraction and ritual error.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48.88-91 (continuation of nyāsa and installation sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra-nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows nyāsa as a method of sanctifying specific limbs by assigning Vedic mantra-seeds/ṛk-names to body parts, preparing the practitioner for a rite with ritual purity and focused intent.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct ritual preparation (nyāsa and mantra-placement), which the Garuda Purana frequently links to protecting the subtle body and ensuring orderly performance of dharmic rites connected with life, death, and post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform any traditional rite with disciplined preparation—cleanliness, correct recitation, and mindful “placing” of intention on the body—so actions are done with steadiness rather than haste or distraction.