Shloka 1

Worship (Pūjā): Vajra-nābha Maṇḍala Construction, Lotus-Seat Design, and Vaiṣṇava Nyāsa

Devanagari script

पूजनं नाम सप्तमो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / भूमिष्ठे मण्डपे स्नात्वा मण्डले विष्णुमर्चयेत् / पञ्चरङ्गिकचूर्णेन वज्रनाभं तु मण्डलम्

Transliteration

pūjanaṃ nāma saptamo 'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / bhūmiṣṭhe maṇḍape snātvā maṇḍale viṣṇumarcayet / pañcaraṅgikacūrṇena vajranābhaṃ tu maṇḍalam

Translation

诃利（Hari）说道：“此章名为‘供奉（Pūjana）’。沐浴之后，于地上所设的曼荼罗坛（maṇḍapa）中，在曼荼罗（maṇḍala）内礼拜毗湿奴（Viṣṇu），并以五色粉末绘成‘金刚脐（vajra-nābha）’曼荼罗。”

Word by Word

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नाम: named; called
• नाम: Discourse marker (Appellation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक-निपात (as called/namely)

• सप्तमः: seventh
• सप्तमः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• भूमिष्ठे: in (a pavilion) set on the ground
• भूमिष्ठे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूमिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) = भूमि + स्थ
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भूमौ स्थितः)

• मण्डपे: in the pavilion
• मण्डपे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया

• मण्डले: in the (ritual) diagram/circle
• मण्डले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• पञ्चरङ्गिकचूर्णेन: with five-colored powder
• पञ्चरङ्गिकचूर्णेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चरङ्गिकचूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) = पञ्च + रङ्गिक + चूर्ण
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पञ्चरङ्गिकं चूर्णम्)

• वज्रनाभम्: having a vajra-like hub; vajra-naveled
• वज्रनाभम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्रनाभ (प्रातिपदिक) = वज्र + नाभ
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (वज्र इव नाभिः यस्य)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Discourse marker (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis/contrast)

• मण्डलम्: the diagram/circle
• मण्डलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Hari (Lord Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purity of body and ordered space supports focused Viṣṇu-upāsanā through maṇḍala worship.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā as a support for citta-śuddhi; the Lord approached through symbol and order (pratīka-upāsanā).

Application: Before worship/meditation, cleanse oneself, prepare a dedicated space, and use a simple visual focus (diagram/yantra/mandala) to steady attention on the chosen deity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual pavilion

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.8.2–1.8.3 (construction details of the maṇḍala)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

What is the importance of making a mandala for worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the mandala as the defined sacred space for Viṣṇu-pūjā—after purification by bathing, worship is to be performed specifically within a prepared diagram, indicating order, purity, and ritual correctness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it teaches preparatory dharmic practice—proper worship of Viṣṇu—which the Purāṇic framework treats as supportive of purification and auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin worship with cleanliness and a dedicated sacred area; create a simple, orderly altar/diagram (even a simplified mandala) to focus attention and maintain ritual discipline in daily Viṣṇu devotion.