Shloka 5

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

अयाचितादि षष्ठ्यादौ राजा शत्रुजयाया च / जपहोमसमायुक्तः कन्यां वा भोजयेत्सदा

Transliteration

ayācitādi ṣaṣṭhyādau rājā śatrujayāyā ca / japahomasamāyuktaḥ kanyāṃ vā bhojayetsadā

Translation

Zu Beginn der Ayācitā- und anderer Observanzen, besonders am Ṣaṣṭhī (sechsten Tithi), soll der König, der den Sieg über Feinde begehrt, zusammen mit Japa und Homa stets ein junges Mädchen (Kanyā) speisen.

Word by Word

• ayācita-ādi: (the rule of) unasked-giving etc.
• ayācita-ādi: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayācita (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'अयाचितम् आदिः यस्य तत्' (ayācita etc., as a set)

• ṣaṣṭhyādau: starting from the sixth (tithi)
• ṣaṣṭhyādau: Adhikarana (Time-locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṣṭhī (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'षष्ठी-आदि (तिथिषु) आरम्भे/समये'

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• śatrujayāyāḥ: of Śatrujayā
• śatrujayāyāḥ: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śatrujayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• japa-homa-samāyuktaḥ: accompanied by japa and homa
• japa-homa-samāyuktaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier of rājā/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक) + homa (प्रातिपदिक) + samāyukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक, √yuj with sam-ā-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'जप-होमेन समायुक्तः'

• kanyām: a maiden (girl)
• kanyām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Alternative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• bhojayet: should feed
• bhojayet: Kriya (Injunctive/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhuj (धातु, causative भोजय-)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in discourse to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Rāja-dharma supported by mantra (japa), yajña (homa), and dāna/anna-dāna (feeding a maiden) for śatru-jaya (overcoming enemies).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: channeling power-seeking aims through regulated, dharmic acts; restraint and giving mitigate rajas.

Application: For leadership roles: combine disciplined practice (regular japa), offerings (homa or symbolic service), and protection of the vulnerable (feeding/educating/supporting girls) when undertaking difficult challenges.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dāna-vidhi and anna-dāna praise; vrata sections prescribing feeding of specific beneficiaries (kanyā, brāhmaṇa, atithi); Garuda Purana: rāja-dharma style injunctions scattered in ācāra material

Characters & Entities

• King (Rājā)
• Kanyā (maiden)

FAQs

What is the importance of feeding a kanyā (maiden) in the Garuḍa Purāṇa?

This verse presents feeding a maiden as a meritorious dharmic act performed alongside japa and homa, used here as a supportive rite within vowed observances for auspicious results (such as protection and victory).

How does this verse relate to the Garuḍa Purāṇa’s broader teaching on karma and ritual results?

It reflects the Purāṇic framework that disciplined ritual action—mantra-recitation (japa), fire-offering (homa), and charitable feeding—produces specific, intended fruits when done at prescribed times (like Ṣaṣṭhī).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Combine personal spiritual practice (regular japa) with ethical giving (annadāna/feeding) on meaningful days; keep the act sincere, respectful, and aligned with one’s capacity and dharma.