Shloka 6

Gāyatrī-Kalpa: Sandhyā-Japa, Devī-Namaskāra, and Homa for Dharma, Kāma, and Moksha

Devanagari script

स्वरेवं जुहुया दग्नौ समिदाज्यं हविष्यकम् / अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं वाप्यथवाष्टशन्त घृतम्

Transliteration

svarevaṃ juhuyā dagnau samidājyaṃ haviṣyakam / aṣṭottarasahasraṃ vāpyathavāṣṭaśanta ghṛtam

Translation

وبالطريقة المقرّرة نفسها يُقدَّم في نار أَغْنِي قُربان الهَفِس المؤلَّف من عيدان الوقود (سَمِدْه) والسمن المصفّى (غِهْرِتَه). وتُؤدَّى القرابين إمّا 1008 مرة، أو وإلا فـ800 تقدمة من السمن.

Word by Word

• स्वर: with proper tone/intonation
• स्वर: Adverbial/Instrumental sense (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पाठभेदे ‘स्वरे’ इति सप्तमी सम्भवति

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Adverbial (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• जुहुयात्: should offer (into fire)
• जुहुयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• अग्नौ: in the fire
• अग्नौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• समित्: fuel-stick
• समित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समिध्/समित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समित्); होमद्रव्य

• आज्यम्: ghee (as oblation)
• आज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; होमद्रव्य

• हविष्यकम्: an oblation-substance
• हविष्यकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविष्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; होमद्रव्य-विशेषः

• अष्टोत्तरसहस्रम्: one thousand and eight (1008)
• अष्टोत्तरसहस्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्या-समासः (सहस्रं अष्टोत्तरम् = 1008)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya (Addition/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Vikalpa (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or else)

• अष्टशतम्: eight hundred (800)
• अष्टशतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्ट शतानि = 800)

• घृतम्: clarified butter (ghee)
• घृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Yajña as transformative action: correct materials (samid, ājya) and correct count (1008/800) embody niyama and generate puṇya and purification.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga principle: action performed as sacred offering refines the doer and reduces egoic appropriation.

Application: If full homa is not feasible, keep the principle: regular ‘offering’ practice—lamp, minimal oblation, or service—done with count/consistency and reverence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual fire-space (vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: homa/ācāra prescriptions in the same dharma-oriented section

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the importance of offering samid and ghee into Agni in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes Agni-offering (homa) as a prescribed ritual act using samid (kindling) and ghṛta (ghee), reinforcing dharmic procedure and the sanctifying role of fire in rites connected with purification and duty.

Why does the verse mention counts like 1008 and 800 for offerings?

The verse gives alternative authorized quantities—either 1008 offerings or an 800-count measure of ghee—indicating regulated, count-based performance typical of Vedic-style rites where number and precision are part of the discipline.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Even when full ritual performance is not possible, the principle is to follow a clear, disciplined method—perform worship or remembrance with sincerity, purity, and consistency, ideally under guidance of a qualified priest for traditional rites.