Shloka 120

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

Devanagari script

दक्षिणे तु यमायैव नैरृत्यां निरृतिं यजेत् / पश्चिमे वरुणायैव वायव्ये वायवे नमः

Transliteration

dakṣiṇe tu yamāyaiva nairṛtyāṃ nirṛtiṃ yajet / paścime varuṇāyaiva vāyavye vāyave namaḥ

Translation

于南方当供奉阎摩（Yama）；于西南方当祭礼尼利提（Nirṛti）。于西方当供奉伐楼那（Varuṇa）；于西北方当向伐由（Vāyu）致敬礼。

Word by Word

• दक्षिणे: in the south
• दक्षिणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• यमाय: to Yama
• यमाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• नैरृत्याम्: in the southwest quarter
• नैरृत्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैरृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• निरृतिम्: Nirṛti (goddess of dissolution)
• निरृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निरृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/विधि), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should worship’

• पश्चिमे: in the west
• पश्चिमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पश्चिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• वरुणाय: to Varuṇa
• वरुणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• एव: also/indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• वायव्ये: in the northwest
• वायव्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of place)

• वायवे: to Vāyu
• वायवे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Pradhana/Predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भाववाचक; (अस्तु) अध्याहृतम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Yamaloka Journey

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Acknowledging Yama and Nirṛti within worship affirms accountability and the need to pacify destructive forces; Varuṇa and Vāyu restore balance through cosmic regulation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma/karma operate as impersonal divine order; even fearsome functions are within Īśvara’s governance.

Application: In rites, do not omit ‘difficult’ quarters—include pacification and accountability; in life, face consequences (Yama) and mitigate disorder (Nirṛti) through disciplined conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: directional quarters around the ritual ground

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.24.121 (Kubera, Śiva, Brahmā)

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Nirṛti
• Varuṇa
• Vāyu

FAQs

What is the importance of directional deities in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse maps specific deities to specific directions, indicating that correct orientation and invocation (dikpala-style) is part of orderly ritual practice in Preta-related rites.

How does this verse relate to Yama and the after-death journey?

By assigning the southern direction to Yama—lord of death and judgment—the verse ritually acknowledges Yama’s domain, aligning the rite with the cosmic governance associated with the preta’s post-death passage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing śrāddha/antyeṣṭi-related prayers, keep a disciplined, respectful procedure—offer salutations with awareness of direction and deity, emphasizing sincerity and dharma rather than mere formality.