Shloka 12

Brahma-dhyāna: From Purification to Samādhi

Meditation on Brahman and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

हृत्पद्मकर्णिकामध्ये शङ्खचक्रगदाब्जवान् / श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभयुतो वनमालाश्रिया युतः

Transliteration

hṛtpadmakarṇikāmadhye śaṅkhacakragadābjavān / śrīvatsakaustubhayuto vanamālāśriyā yutaḥ

Translation

于心莲之花房中央，当观想主宰：执螺、持轮、握杵、捧莲；胸具室利跋蹉（Śrīvatsa）圣纹，佩考斯图婆（Kaustubha）宝珠，并以林花鬘之光辉而灿然。

Word by Word

• हृत्-पद्म-कर्णिका-मध्ये: in the middle of the heart-lotus’s pericarp
• हृत्-पद्म-कर्णिका-मध्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः; अर्थः—हृदय-पद्मस्य कर्णिकायाः मध्ये

• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-अब्ज-वान्: possessing conch, discus, mace, and lotus
• शङ्ख-चक्र-गदा-अब्ज-वान्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject attribute/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक) + चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गदा (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्ज (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (शङ्खचक्रगदाब्ज) + वत्-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण

• श्रीवत्स-कौस्तुभ-युतः: endowed with Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha
• श्रीवत्स-कौस्तुभ-युतः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject attribute/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीवत्स (प्रातिपदिक) + कौस्तुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त; युज् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभ) + युत (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त, 'युक्त'); विशेषण

• वनमाला-श्रिया: with the splendor of a forest-garland
• वनमाला-श्रिया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनमाला (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वनमालायाः श्रीः)

• युतः: joined; endowed
• युतः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (Subject attribute/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, describing inner meditation on Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Antaryāmin-upāsanā: contemplate Viṣṇu within the heart-lotus, endowed with conch, discus, mace, lotus, Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna Brahman as accessible focus; the Lord as inner ruler (antaryāmin) approached through dhyāna-bhakti.

Application: Practice heart-centered visualization: place attention at the heart, imagine a lotus and its pericarp, then the four-armed Lord with specific attributes; use this as a stable dhyāna-krama.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner sacred space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.44.11 (mūrti as support for steadiness); Garuda Purana 1.44.15 (meditation, praise, japa leading to liberation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shankha
• Chakra
• Gada
• Padma
• Shrivatsa
• Kaustubha
• Vanamala

FAQs

What is the importance of meditating on Vishnu in the heart-lotus in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches antar-dhyāna (inner contemplation): placing Vishnu’s form in the heart-lotus steadies the mind and anchors devotion, making remembrance of Narayana a direct means toward purification and liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing constant inner remembrance of Vishnu’s auspicious form, it points to a devotional-meditative path where the mind is trained to turn to Narayana—supporting a sattvic life and a death oriented toward moksha.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a daily visualization: in a few quiet minutes, contemplate Vishnu in the heart-lotus with His four emblems; let this guide ethical choices, calm fear, and strengthen steady bhakti.