Shloka 14

Devanagari script

पञ्चगव्यामृतैः स्नाप्य तत्काले गुरुं श्रितः / ॐ नमो नमः शिवाय गन्धाद्यः पूजयेद्धरम्

Transliteration

pañcagavyāmṛtaiḥ snāpya tatkāle guruṃ śritaḥ / oṃ namo namaḥ śivāya gandhādyaḥ pūjayeddharam

Translation

Nachdem man (das heilige Bild oder Symbol) mit pañcagavya — den fünf Erzeugnissen der Kuh — und mit amṛta (Nektar) gebadet hat und in diesem Augenblick beim eigenen Guru Zuflucht nimmt, soll man den Herrn mit Düften und anderen Gaben verehren und sprechen: „Oṁ, namo namaḥ Śivāya.“

Word by Word

• पञ्चगव्यामृतैः: with pañcagavya and amṛta-mixtures
• पञ्चगव्यामृतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या) + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पञ्चगव्यं च अमृतं च इति द्रव्यसमूहः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन (instrumental plural)

• स्नाप्य: having bathed (with)
• स्नाप्य: Kriya (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → स्नापय् + य (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): "having bathed/caused to bathe" (here: having bathed [oneself/linga])

• तत्काले: at that time
• तत्काले: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (तस्मिन् काले); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• गुरुम्: the guru
• गुरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• श्रितः: having taken refuge in / having approached
• श्रितः: Karta (Subject complement/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रि (धातु) → श्रित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ("having resorted to")

• ॐ: Oṃ
• ॐ: Sambandha (Mantra particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (प्रणव-अव्यय)
• Form: मन्त्र-प्रणव (sacred syllable; indeclinable)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नमस्-शब्दः अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable interjection of salutation)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुनरुक्त-नमस् (repeated salutation; indeclinable)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन (dative)

• गन्धाद्यैः: with perfumes and the like
• गन्धाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गन्ध-आदि = "perfume etc."); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Main verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• धरम्: the bearer/supporter (Śiva)
• धरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; (शिवस्य विशेषणरूपेण)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, within the Garuda Purana’s instructional frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Purification (abhiṣeka) and correct worship are empowered by guru-śaraṇāgati and mantra; devotion is enacted through tangible offerings and sacred recitation.

Vedantic Theme: External ritual as support for inner purification; guru as mediator of right knowledge and right practice; mantra as focusing consciousness on the divine.

Application: If practicing ritual, learn from a competent teacher, keep cleanliness and intention, and use mantra-japa to steady attention; translate ‘fragrance offerings’ into offering one’s best qualities.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/home shrine

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: pūjā-vidhi and emphasis on guru; use of pañcagavya for purification appears across ritual sections

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of pañcagavya bathing in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse presents pañcagavya (five cow-products) and amṛta-like substances as purificatory media used before worship, emphasizing ritual cleanliness and sanctification prior to mantra-based pūjā.

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

Indirectly: it stresses taking refuge in the guru and performing disciplined worship with mantra, which the Garuda Purana frames as dharmic conduct that supports spiritual purification and favorable post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach practice under authentic guidance (guru), keep worship simple but sincere (cleanliness, fragrance/incense, offerings), and use a focused mantra like “Oṃ namo namaḥ śivāya” for steadiness and ethical living.