Shloka 96

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

दीपधूपसुगन्धैश्च नैवेद्यैश्च प्रपूजयेत् / अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा नमस्कृत्य ततो देवं क्षमापयेत्

Transliteration

dīpadhūpasugandhaiśca naivedyaiśca prapūjayet / arghyaṃ dattvā namaskṛtya tato devaṃ kṣamāpayet

Translation

يُعبَد الإله بالمصابيح والبخور والطيوب، وبـ naivedya (طعام القربان). وبعد تقديم arghya والانحناء بالسجود، يُلتمَس من الإله الصفح والمغفرة.

Word by Word

• dīpa-dhūpa-sugandhaiḥ: with lamps, incense, and fragrances
• dīpa-dhūpa-sugandhaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sugandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• naivedyaiḥ: with food offerings
• naivedyaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naivedya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• prapūjayet: should worship properly
• prapūjayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + pūj (धा√पूज्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• arghyam: arghya offering (water/oblation)
• arghyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arghya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धा√दा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया

• namaskṛtya: having bowed/saluted
• namaskṛtya: Kriya (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas + kṛ (धा√कृ)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); नामधातु-प्रयोग (to do salutation)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रमार्थक (then)

• devam: the deity
• devam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kṣamāpayet: should ask forgiveness/propitiate
• kṣamāpayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣam (धा√क्षम) + ṇic (णिच्) causative
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative: ‘cause to forgive’ = ask pardon)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotional completeness includes offering (upacāra) and humility—seeking forgiveness for inevitable omissions/errors.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara’s grace (anugraha) completes imperfect action; surrender (śaraṇāgati) purifies the doer.

Application: End worship and any sacred duty with kṣamā-yācana; cultivate accountability and reverence, not mere performance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: pūjā space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48.96 (upacāra-pūjā + arghya + kṣamā)

Characters & Entities

• Deva (the Deity)

FAQs

What is the importance of offering lamp, incense, fragrance, and naivedya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as standard components of complete worship—external offerings that express reverence and devotional completeness before concluding the rite.

Why does the verse emphasize asking the Deity’s forgiveness after worship?

It teaches kṣamāpanā (seeking pardon) as an essential closure to worship—acknowledging possible mistakes in mantra, method, purity, or attention, and restoring the devotional act through humility.

What is a practical application of this instruction today?

After any puja (home or temple), consciously conclude with a brief apology/prayer for omissions, offer a respectful arghya (as per one’s tradition), and bow—making the practice both disciplined and humble.