Shloka 42

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

श्रीवत्सं कौस्तुभं मालां तथा पीताम्बरं शुभम् / पूजयेत्पूर्वतो रुद्र शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्

Transliteration

śrīvatsaṃ kaustubhaṃ mālāṃ tathā pītāmbaraṃ śubham / pūjayetpūrvato rudra śaṅkhacakragadādharam

Translation

具足圣痕室利伐蹉（Śrīvatsa）、佩戴考斯图婆宝珠（Kaustubha）、花鬘，并披吉祥黄衣者——应在东方礼拜那位执螺、执轮、执杵的主（śaṅkha–cakra–gadā）。

Word by Word

• श्रीवत्सम्: Śrīvatsa mark
• श्रीवत्सम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कौस्तुभम्: Kaustubha jewel
• कौस्तुभम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मालाम्: garland
• मालाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conj./adverb)

• पीताम्बरम्: yellow garment
• पीताम्बरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीत-अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—पीतम् अम्बरम् (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• शुभम्: auspicious
• शुभम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (पीताम्बरम्)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• पूर्वतः: in/from the east
• पूर्वतः: Adhikarana (Directional)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (directional adverb)

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्: the bearer of conch, discus, and mace
• शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—शङ्खं च चक्रं च गदां च धरतीति (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; बहुपदसमासः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda; vocative 'rudra' appears as an address within the verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contemplation and worship of Vishnu through recognizable divine marks and emblems; form (rupa) supports steady devotion and protection.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahman upasana: the infinite approached through auspicious attributes (ananta-kalyana-guna).

Application: In prayer/meditation, visualize the deity with stable iconographic anchors (Srivatsa, Kaustubha, pitambara, shankha-chakra-gada) to steady attention and evoke trust.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: directional worship placement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34 (Vishnu dhyana/arcana with lakshanas and ayudhas)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shrivatsa
• Kaustubha
• Shankha
• Chakra
• Gada
• Rudra

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Vishnu facing the east in the Garuda Purana?

This verse specifies the eastern direction (pūrvataḥ) as the orientation for worship, indicating a prescribed ritual placement for honoring Vishnu in a traditional puja setup.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on the soul’s journey after death?

While not describing afterlife mechanics directly, it emphasizes correct Vishnu-upāsanā (devotional worship), which the Garuda Purana repeatedly treats as a purifying support for dharma and auspicious outcomes for the soul.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

In daily worship, place Vishnu’s image or focus of prayer toward the east and meditate on his traditional attributes (Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha, yellow garment, conch-discus-mace) to keep devotion disciplined and symbolically complete.