Shloka 15

Sandhyā-Upāsanā Vidhi: Prāṇāyāma, Water Purification, Aghāmarpaṇa, Sūrya Worship, Nyāsa, and Gāyatrī Japa

Devanagari script

त्रिपदा या तु गायत्त्री ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वरी / विनियोगमृषिच्छन्दो ज्ञात्वा तु जपमारभेत्

Transliteration

tripadā yā tu gāyattrī brahmaviṣṇumaheśvarī / viniyogamṛṣicchando jñātvā tu japamārabhet

Translation

此三足伽耶特丽（tripadā）具梵天（Brahmā）、毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）与大自在天（Maheśvara）之性。了知其仪用（viniyoga）、圣见者（ṛṣi）与韵律（chandas）之后，方可开始持诵（japa）。

Word by Word

• त्रिपदा: having three padas
• त्रिपदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (three-footed/three-pada)

• या: which (she who)
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक

• गायत्त्री: Gāyatrī
• गायत्त्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वरी: (as) Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvarī
• ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः/समुच्चयः (Brahmā-Viṣṇu-Maheśvarī as a combined epithet)

• विनियोगम्: application/assignment (viniyoga)
• विनियोगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऋषि: seer (ṛṣi)
• ऋषि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (समास-पूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• छन्दः: meter (chandas)
• छन्दः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (समास-पूर्वपद-रूपेण)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having known’

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक

• जपम्: recitation (japa)
• जपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आरभेत्: should begin
• आरभेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + रभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-devatā unity: Gāyatrī as triune divine power; japa should be preceded by knowledge of viniyoga, ṛṣi, and chandas (right orientation).

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā as a support for realizing the one Reality appearing as many functions (sṛṣṭi-sthiti-saṃhāra).

Application: Before japa, recite/remember: viniyoga (purpose), ṛṣi (seer), chandas (meter), devatā (Gāyatrī as triune); then begin repetition with steadiness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-theological frame

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.36.11 (Sandhyā triad); Garuda Purana 1.36.12-14 (nyāsa, japa, prāṇāyāma sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Maheshvara

FAQs

What is the importance of knowing viniyoga, rishi, and chandas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that japa should begin only after understanding the mantra’s viniyoga (application), its ṛṣi (seer), and chandas (meter), emphasizing correct Vedic procedure and disciplined practice.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to purification through proper mantra practice: disciplined japa and correct ritual knowledge are presented as dharmic supports that refine the mind and aid spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before daily Gāyatrī japa, learn the mantra’s basic viniyoga/ṛṣi/chandas from a reliable tradition or teacher and chant with clarity and intent rather than mechanically.