Shloka 10

Vināyaka-pīḍā: Omens, Purification, Crossroads Offerings, and Ambikā Svastyayana

Devanagari script

जुहुयान्मूर्धनि कुशान्सव्येन परिगृह्य च / मितश्चसमितश्चैव तथा शालकटङ्कटौ

Transliteration

juhuyānmūrdhani kuśānsavyena parigṛhya ca / mitaścasamitaścaiva tathā śālakaṭaṅkaṭau

Translation

ممسكًا بعشب الكوشا (kuśa) باليد اليسرى، ينبغي أن يُقدَّم الطقس عند قِمّة الرأس؛ وكذلك يُفعل بما قيس قَدْرُه وما أُحسن ترتيبه، ومع الأدوات الطقسية «شالَكَة» (śālaka) و«أنكَطَة» (aṅkaṭa).

Word by Word

• जुहुयात्: should offer (as oblation)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम/मध्यमपुरुष-एकवचन-प्रयोगः; परस्मैपदम् (should offer into fire)

• मूर्धनि: on the head
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• कुशान्: kuśa grasses
• कुशान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• सव्येन: with the left (hand)
• सव्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; 'सव्य' = left (hand/side) (Instrumental singular)

• परिगृह्य: having taken; holding
• परिगृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु) उपसर्गः परि-
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (Gerund/Absolutive): having taken/holding

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• मितः: Mita (name)
• मितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नाम/विशेष-शब्दः (a named entity)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• समितः: Samita (name)
• समितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; नाम/विशेष-शब्दः (a named entity)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (emphasis)

• तथा: thus; likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकारवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (thus/in that manner)

• शालकटङ्कटौ: Śālaka and Ṭaṅkaṭa (two names/items)
• शालकटङ्कटौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शालक + टङ्कट (प्रातिपदिक-द्वय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; द्वन्द्व-समासः (two items/names)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra, within the Garuḍa Purāṇa dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct procedure (vidhi), correct handling of sacred materials (kuśa), and disciplined order (mita/samita).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a purifier of mind when performed with śraddhā and niyama; orderliness supporting sattva.

Application: In any sacred or meaningful task, attend to method: prepare tools, follow sequence, and maintain steadiness—precision is itself a form of reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground / domestic altar space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: ācāra/vidhi passages on kuśa usage and śānti-karmas (general parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of kuśa grass in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse treats kuśa as a required ritual medium—held in the left hand—used while performing the prescribed offering/act, indicating purity and correct ritual handling.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes precise ritual conduct connected to death/post-death observances, which the Garuda Purana links with orderly transition and support for the departed through dharmic rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing traditional rites, follow a qualified priest’s guidance and keep the observance disciplined—proper materials, correct handling, and measured, orderly preparation—rather than improvising.