Shloka 21

Mantra-Nyāsa and Elemental Maṇḍalas: Nāga Invocation and Garuḍa–Bhairava Dhyāna for Protection

Devanagari script

बीजन्तु चिन्तयेत्पश्चाद्वर्षान्तममृतात्मकम् / एवञ्चाप्यायनं कृत्वा मूर्ध्नि सञ्चिन्त्य चात्मनः

Transliteration

bījantu cintayetpaścādvarṣāntamamṛtātmakam / evañcāpyāyanaṃ kṛtvā mūrdhni sañcintya cātmanaḥ

Translation

随后，应观想“种子之终”（因缘之始的归寂），再观想岁末具甘露不死之性。如此完成内在的滋养与坚固之后，当于自身之中思惟此义，将观想安置于头顶之冠处。

Word by Word

• बीजम्: seed
• बीजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/then
• तु: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle/emphasis-contrast)

• चिन्तयेत्: should contemplate
• चिन्तयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: afterwards)

• वर्षान्तम्: the end of the rainy season
• वर्षान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वर्षस्य अन्तः)

• अमृतात्मकम्: of the nature of nectar/immortal essence
• अमृतात्मकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (अमृतः आत्मा यस्य/अमृतस्वभावः)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thus)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अप्यायनम्: nourishment/expansion (invigoration)
• अप्यायनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्यायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head/crown
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सञ्चिन्त्य: having meditated upon
• सञ्चिन्त्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Meditation on the cessation of causal seed (bīja-anta) and time-cycle (varṣa-anta) as amṛta, followed by inner ‘āpāyana’ (nourishing consolidation) and placement of awareness at the crown.

Vedantic Theme: Causality is transcended by inward absorption; time and origin are contemplated as ultimately resolved in the deathless Self.

Application: Use a stepwise dhyāna: contemplate the ‘end’ of causal impulses, then the completion of cyclic time as deathless awareness; conclude by steadying attention at the crown with calm breath and minimal mental movement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: subtle-body locus (śiras/cakra-sthāna)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.197 (bhūta-śuddhi/nyāsa-style sequence: earth→sun/fire→air etc.)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Atman
• Amrita

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on 'amṛta' (immortality) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames amṛta as a contemplative focus that transforms time-bound cycles (like the year’s end) into insight toward the deathless Self, strengthening spiritual steadiness.

How does this verse relate to the subtle body and inner practice?

By instructing concentrated contemplation at the crown of the head (mūrdhni) along with āpyāyana (inner replenishment), the verse points to a yogic, subtle-body oriented visualization for refinement of consciousness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use a short daily meditation: reflect on the fading of causes and cycles, then visualize calm, life-giving clarity at the crown of the head to cultivate composure, discipline, and detachment.