Shloka 104

Veṅkaṭācala Māhātmya: Bhakti-Lakṣaṇa, Nārasiṁha-tīrtha, and the Secret Darśana-Vidhi of Śrīnivāsa

Devanagari script

उत्तरे च नमः कुर्याद्युल्काय च महात्मने / चतुर्ष्वपि च कोणेषु सहस्रोल्कं नमेत्सुधीः

Transliteration

uttare ca namaḥ kuryādyulkāya ca mahātmane / caturṣvapi ca koṇeṣu sahasrolkaṃ nametsudhīḥ

Translation

面向北方，应向大心的乌尔卡（Ulkā）致敬礼拜；并且在四个角隅，智者也当顶礼萨哈斯罗尔卡（Sahasrolkā）。

Word by Word

• उत्तरे: in the north
• उत्तरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Karma (कर्म/Object of 'do/offer')
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (interjection-like usage)

• कुर्यात्: should do/offer
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उल्कायै: to Ulkā
• उल्कायै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महात्मने: to the great-souled one
• महात्मने: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिसंज्ञक-प्रातिपदिक (lexical)

• चतुःषु: in the four
• चतुःषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; 'चतुर्' इत्यस्य सप्तमी बहुवचन रूपम् (in four)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कोणेषु: in the corners
• कोणेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन

• सहस्र-उल्कम्: Sahasrolka
• सहस्र-उल्कम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'सहस्रस्य उल्कः' / 'सहस्र-नामकः उल्कः' (proper name)

• नमेत्: should bow
• नमेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सु-धीः: the wise person
• सु-धीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'सु-धी' = 'good-intellect' (wise)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Completeness in observance—honoring both cardinal directions and corners—reflects thoroughness (samyak-kriyā) in sacred acts.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana requires saṃpūrṇatā (integrity/wholeness); outer completeness supports inner integration.

Application: In worship or meditation, ‘close the circle’: begin with orientation, end with a brief completion prayer to stabilize attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure / directional-corner stations

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.103 (east/south/west); Garuda Purana 3.24.105-106 (directional Vyūhas)

Characters & Entities

• Ulkā
• Sahasrolkā

FAQs

What is the importance of directional salutations in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes honoring specific protective beings by direction (north) and by the four corners, indicating a ritual method to secure protection and remove obstacles during rites connected with the preta (post-death) context.

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

By emphasizing protective salutations around the ritual space (north and the four corners), the verse supports the larger Preta Kanda aim: ensuring orderly performance of rites that aid the departed and reduce hindrances in the post-death passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing ancestral or funeral-related observances, maintain disciplined reverence—begin with respectful salutations and mindful orientation—so the rite is done carefully, with protection sought and distractions minimized.