Shloka 20

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

पुष्पैर्वितानैर्बहुलैरादिवर्णाभिमन्त्रिताः / दिक्पालाश्च ततः पूज्याः शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा

Transliteration

puṣpairvitānairbahulairādivarṇābhimantritāḥ / dikpālāśca tataḥ pūjyāḥ śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā

Translation

Với vô số hoa và màn tán trang trí, được gia trì bằng sự tụng niệm các âm tiết nguyên sơ, bấy giờ hãy lễ bái các Dikpāla—những vị Hộ Phương—thực hành nghi lễ đúng như kinh điển đã dạy.

Word by Word

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural neuter

• वितानैः: with canopies/cloth-hangings
• वितानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural masculine

• बहुलैः: abundant/many
• बहुलैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; instrumental plural masculine; विशेषण (to वितानैः)

• आदि-वर्ण-अभिमन्त्रिताः: consecrated with the initial syllables/letters (mantras)
• आदि-वर्ण-अभिमन्त्रिताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अभि-मन्त्रित (कृदन्त; √मन्त्र् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘consecrated/enchanted’; समासः तत्पुरुष (आदिवर्णैः अभिमन्त्रिताः)

• दिक्-पालाः: the guardians of the directions
• दिक्-पालाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; nominative plural masculine; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिशां पालाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय; conjunction

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक ‘thereafter’

• पूज्याः: are to be worshipped
• पूज्याः: Karta (Predicate nominative/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त; √पूज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; gerundive (तव्यत्) ‘to be worshipped’

• शास्त्र-दृष्टेन: as prescribed/seen in scripture
• शास्त्र-दृष्टेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्ट (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; instrumental singular neuter (agreeing with कर्मणा); समासः तत्पुरुष (शास्त्रेण दृष्टम्)

• कर्मणा: by the rite/procedure
• कर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; instrumental singular neuter

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During ancillary worship (aṅga-pūjā) before/around the main śrāddha offerings

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra-guided action (śāstradṛṣṭa karma) is itself a form of sacred alignment; beauty (flowers/canopies) supports devotion and order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: offering action into a larger order; ritual as a disciplined means to purify intention.

Application: Follow reliable procedure in sacred duties; combine aesthetic care with correctness; treat guardianship of space as part of ethical responsibility.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: mandala/altar precinct

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (dikpāla-pūjana; mantra-bīja consecration)

Characters & Entities

• Dikpalas (Guardians of the Directions)

FAQs

What is the importance of Dikpala worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that the directional guardians should be honored after proper mantra-consecration, indicating that ritual completeness and cosmic order (dik/space sanctification) are essential for the rite to be valid.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes correct, scripture-based ritual conduct; in Garuda Purana’s framework, such ordered rites support dharmic transitions and auspicious outcomes connected with life-cycle and post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform worship and life-cycle rites with clarity, cleanliness, and scriptural discipline—using mantra with intention and following a defined procedure rather than improvisation.