Shloka 11

Viṣṇu-pūjāvidhi: Śuddhi, Nyāsa, Dhyāna, Āsana-devatā Pūjā, Upacāras, and Stotra

Devanagari script

अहं विष्णुरिति ध्यात्वा कृत्वा वै शोधनादिकम् / यं क्षैं रमिति बीजैश्च कठिनी कृत्य नामभिः

Transliteration

ahaṃ viṣṇuriti dhyātvā kṛtvā vai śodhanādikam / yaṃ kṣaiṃ ramiti bījaiśca kaṭhinī kṛtya nāmabhiḥ

Translation

Quán niệm rằng: “Ta là Viṣṇu”, sau khi đã làm các nghi thức thanh tịnh sơ khởi và những pháp liên hệ, hành giả nên khiến thần chú trở nên kiên cố, linh nghiệm bằng các âm chủng tử “yaṃ”, “kṣaiṃ”, “ram” cùng với các thánh danh.

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुषार्थे; प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); धातु: ध्यै; अर्थः: ध्यात्वा = having meditated/thought

• कृत्वा: having performed
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त; धातु: कृ; अर्थः: having done

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/एवकारार्थक (emphatic particle)

• शोधन-आदिकम्: purification and related rites
• शोधन-आदिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोधन (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचनम्; समासः: तत्पुरुषः (शोधनं च तदादि च = purification etc.)

• यम्: whom
• यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; सम्बन्धे (whom/which)

• क्षैम्: the seed-syllable “kṣaiṃ”
• क्षैम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षैम् (बीजाक्षर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बीजाक्षर-शब्दः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (मन्त्रपदे उच्चारणार्थम्)

• रम्: the seed-syllable “ram”
• रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रम् (बीजाक्षर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बीजाक्षर-शब्दः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक

• बीजैः: with seed-syllables
• बीजैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्

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

• कठिनीम्: Kaṭhinī (a specific rite/śakti)
• कठिनीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कठिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; (तन्त्रप्रयोगे) कठिनी-शक्ति/मुद्रा/विधिः इत्यर्थे

• कृत्य: having performed
• कृत्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); धातु: कृ; अर्थः: having done/performing

• नामभिः: with names (mantric names)
• नामभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचनम्

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ahamgraha-upāsanā (‘I am Viṣṇu’) supported by purification and mantra-bīja/nāma to stabilize realization and efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Qualified non-dual contemplative method: identity meditation as a means to dissolve dehābhimāna; saguna supports used to approach nirguna insight.

Application: Before japa: perform basic śodhana (ācamana/prāṇāyāma/saṅkalpa), then repeat a Viṣṇu-nāma mantra; if trained in mantra-śāstra, integrate bīja-syllables with proper nyāsa under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-psychic space (mantra-sādhana)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.31.9-10 (dhyāna of form); Garuda Purana 1.31.12-13 (cosmic visualization and ātma-pūjā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of purification (śodhana) in the Garuda Purana’s ritual instructions?

This verse places śodhana as a required preliminary step before mantra application, indicating that inner/outer cleansing is essential for the rite to become effective.

How does this verse explain the spiritual method—meditation and mantra—within the Garuda Purana?

It links identity-focused meditation (‘I am Viṣṇu’) with practical ritual sequencing: first purification, then strengthening the practice through bīja-syllables and divine names.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Begin any sacred practice with basic purification and focused remembrance of Viṣṇu, then proceed with disciplined mantra recitation (japa) rather than skipping foundational preparation.