Shloka 9

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

शूले खङ्गे पुस्तके वा पटे वा मण्डले (पे) यजेत् / कपालं खेटकं घण्टां दर्पणं तर्जनीं धनः

Transliteration

śūle khaṅge pustake vā paṭe vā maṇḍale (pe) yajet / kapālaṃ kheṭakaṃ ghaṇṭāṃ darpaṇaṃ tarjanīṃ dhanaḥ

Translation

يجوز أن تُقام العبادة (للمعبود) على الرمح الثلاثي، أو على السيف، أو في كتاب، أو على قماشٍ مصوَّر، أو في ماندالا طقسية. ويجوز أيضًا أن تكون العبادة مع جمجمة، وترس، وجرس، ومرآة، والسبّابة (كإشارة طقسية)، والمال (قربانًا).

Word by Word

• शूले: on a trident
• शूले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular ‘on/in a trident’

• खङ्गे: on a sword
• खङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular masculine

• पुस्तके: in/on a book
• पुस्तके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular neuter

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः — ‘or’

• पटे: on a cloth
• पटे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular masculine (on a cloth/scroll)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः — ‘or’

• मण्डले: in a maṇḍala (diagram)
• मण्डले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular neuter

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — should worship/sacrifice

• कपालम्: a skull-bowl
• कपालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular neuter

• खेटकम्: a shield
• खेटकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular neuter

• घण्टाम्: a bell
• घण्टाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular feminine

• दर्पणम्: a mirror
• दर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular neuter

• तर्जनीम्: the index finger (gesture)
• तर्जनीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular feminine

• धनः: wealth / (possibly) bow (textual uncertainty)
• धनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative singular masculine (as written); संदिग्धपाठः—सम्भाव्यं ‘धनुः’ (bow) वा ‘धनम्’ (wealth)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Divine may be worshipped through diverse symbolic supports; sacredness is invoked by intention, rite, and recognized emblems.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā: the One approached through many forms; symbols as gateways to contemplation.

Application: Choose an appropriate worship support (image, mandala, text) consistent with tradition; treat symbols ethically (weapons/wealth) as consecrated, not for harm or vanity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (mandala/paṭa/book/weapon as support)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.133.10 (weapon-bearing iconography continues)

FAQs

What is the importance of alternative worship supports (ādhāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that worship is not limited to a single idol-form; sacred presence can be invoked in multiple supports—weapons, texts, paintings, or a maṇḍala—according to ritual context and availability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey here; instead, it focuses on practical ritual procedure—how worship may be performed using specific supports and implements.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain sincerity and ritual discipline: worship can be done with a text, a simple diagram, or a consecrated image, offering what is possible (including wealth/charity) while following appropriate tradition.