Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

दूर्वासर्षपपुष्पैश्च पुत्रजन्मभिरन्ततः / कृतस्वस्त्ययनं चैव प्रार्थयेदम्बिकां सतीम्

Transliteration

dūrvāsarṣapapuṣpaiśca putrajanmabhirantataḥ / kṛtasvastyayanaṃ caiva prārthayedambikāṃ satīm

Translation

Mit Dūrvā-Gras, Senfkörnern und Blumen—und schließlich mit den Riten zur Erlangung (oder zur Geburt) eines Sohnes—nachdem man das Svastyayana (segensreiche Weihe) ordnungsgemäß vollzogen hat, bete man zur tugendhaften Mutter Ambikā (Satī).

Word by Word

• दूर्वा: dūrvā grass
• दूर्वा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन-समर्थे समासपूर्वपद (समासे अव्यक्त-विभक्ति)

• सर्षप: mustard (seeds)
• सर्षप: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्षप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन-समर्थे समासपूर्वपद (समासे अव्यक्त-विभक्ति)

• पुष्पैः: with flowers
• पुष्पैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुत्रजन्मभिः: with (rites/offerings for) the birth of sons
• पुत्रजन्मभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुत्रस्य जन्म)

• अन्ततः: finally/thereafter
• अन्ततः: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्यवसान/अन्ते इत्यर्थक अव्यय (finally/at the end)

• कृतस्वस्त्ययनम्: having performed the svastyayana (benedictory rite)
• कृतस्वस्त्ययनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, कृदन्त) + स्वस्त्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण-प्रयोगः (कृतं स्वस्त्ययनं येन/यत्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed)

• प्रार्थयेत्: should pray/request
• प्रार्थयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- अर्थ् (धातु: अर्थ्/अर्थय् ‘याचने’)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्गः: प्र

• अम्बिकाम्: Ambikā
• अम्बिकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सतीम्: the virtuous/true (goddess)
• सतीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सती (सत् धातु/अस् धातु, कृदन्त-स्त्री) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (ambikām इत्यस्य)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Seeking divine grace through svastyayana and auspicious offerings; prayer for progeny framed within ritual propriety.

Vedantic Theme: Grace (anugraha) complements effort; devotion channels desire into dharmic, sanctified aspiration.

Application: Perform svastyayana (auspicious benediction) with traditional items (dūrvā, mustard, flowers) and pray with sincerity; hold desires within ethical commitments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: pūjā-sthāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.100.14 (arghya to Ambikā); Garuda Purana 1.100.16 (explicit boons requested)

Characters & Entities

• Ambika
• Sati

FAQs

What is the importance of svastyayana in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats svastyayana as a required auspicious benediction that completes the rite and sanctifies the prayer, indicating that blessings are sought after proper ritual order and purity.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on dharmic life?

Rather than describing afterlife punishments, it emphasizes gṛhastha-dharma—performing orderly, auspicious rites and approaching the Divine Mother (Ambikā/Satī) for legitimate aims such as progeny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach important life-goals with discipline: perform your duties carefully, keep intentions sattvic, and conclude actions with prayer/thanksgiving rather than haste or negligence.