Shloka 9

Graha-yajña-vidhi

Procedure for the Planetary Sacrifice

Devanagari script

अर्कः पलाशः खदिरस्त्वपामार्गो ऽथ पिप्पलः / औदुम्बरः शमी दूर्वा कुशाश्च समिधः क्रमात्

Transliteration

arkaḥ palāśaḥ khadirastvapāmārgo 'tha pippalaḥ / audumbaraḥ śamī dūrvā kuśāśca samidhaḥ kramāt

Translation

In der vorgeschriebenen Reihenfolge sind die Opferhölzer (samidh): arka, palāśa, khadira, apāmārga; danach pippala, audumbara, śamī, dūrvā und kuśa.

Word by Word

• अर्कः: arka plant
• अर्कः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• पलाशः: palāśa
• पलाशः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पलाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• खदिरः: khadira
• खदिरः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खदिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: and/also
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘and/also/but’)

• अपामार्गः: apāmārga
• अपामार्गः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपामार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then/next
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequence/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (sequencing particle)

• पिप्पलः: pippala (aśvattha)
• पिप्पलः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिप्पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• औदुम्बरः: udumbara
• औदुम्बरः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औदुम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शमी: śamī
• शमी: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• दूर्वा: dūrvā grass
• दूर्वा: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर्वा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुशाः: kuśa grasses
• कुशाः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (plural)

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

• समिधः: fuel-sticks (samidh)
• समिधः: Karta (Listed item/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समिध्/समिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनान्त रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (ablative used adverbially): ‘in order’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Material exactness in yajna: even fuel selection is dharma, expressing reverence through right means (samyak-sadhana).

Vedantic Theme: Nature as offering-field; disciplined action transforms ordinary biomass into sacred instrument, aiding purification.

Application: Collect and use the listed samidh—arka, palasha, khadira, apamarga, pippala, audumbara, shami, durva, kusha—in the prescribed sequence for offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: forest-to-altar supply chain; samidh collection and homa use

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.101.5-8 (same rite: setup, offerings, mantra sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of samidh (ritual fuel) in Garuda Purana death rites?

This verse specifies the approved samidh materials in a set order, indicating that correct ritual substances are part of proper śrāddha/antyeṣṭi performance.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: it supports the broader Preta-kāṇḍa teaching that post-death rites must be done correctly; these offerings are presented as part of the prescribed ritual framework that aids the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When arranging śrāddha or funeral-related homa under a qualified priest, use traditionally accepted samidh (or their locally sanctioned substitutes) and follow the prescribed order rather than improvising.