Shloka 12

Dīkṣā Procedure: Homa Measures, Elemental Reconstitution, and Naming by Omen

Devanagari script

तन्नाम कारयेत्तस्य स्त्रीणां नामाङ्कितं स्वयम् / शूद्राणां दाससंयुक्तं कारयेत्तु विचक्षणः

Transliteration

tannāma kārayettasya strīṇāṃ nāmāṅkitaṃ svayam / śūdrāṇāṃ dāsasaṃyuktaṃ kārayettu vicakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Der Einsichtige soll den Namen entsprechend festlegen lassen: für Frauen einen Namen in erkennbar weiblicher Form; und für Śūdras einen Namen, der mit einem Element verbunden ist, das Dienstbarkeit anzeigt.

Word by Word

• तत्-नाम: that name
• तत्-नाम: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + नामन्/नाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — ‘that name’

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कारय् (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — should cause to be made/should have made

• तस्य: of him/of it
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन — of him/of it

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन — of women

• नाम-अङ्कितम्: name-inscribed
• नाम-अङ्कितम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नामन्/नाम (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कित (कृदन्त-क्त; अङ्क् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नाम्ना अङ्कितम्) — inscribed with the name

• स्वयम्: personally
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता-बल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: स्वतन्त्रकर्तृवाचक-अव्ययम् — oneself/personally

• शूद्राणाम्: of Śūdras
• शूद्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन — of Śūdras

• दास-संयुक्तम्: combined with ‘dāsa’
• दास-संयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दास (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त-क्त; सम्-युज् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दासेन संयुक्तम्) — joined with ‘dāsa’ (servant)

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made
• कारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कारय् (णिच् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम् — should have made

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः — but/indeed

• विचक्षणः: the wise (person)
• विचक्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — discerning/wise

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Names are to be formed according to prescribed social/grammatical markers (gendered forms; service-indicating element for Śūdra).

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha (maintenance of social order) as a dharmic concern, distinct from ultimate non-duality.

Application: When engaging with tradition, understand historical naming conventions; in modern settings, apply the spirit of clarity and respect while avoiding discriminatory enforcement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: social/ritual context (nāmakaraṇa or dīkṣā-nāma assignment)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.9.11 (flower-fall indication preceding naming)

FAQs

What is the importance of naming (Nāmakaraṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats naming as a dharmic act: names should be formed according to prescribed social and grammatical markers, reflecting order (ācāra) and propriety.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It does not address the after-death journey here; it belongs to Ācāra Kāṇḍa guidance on conduct and rites, focusing specifically on name-formation conventions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use culturally and linguistically appropriate name-forms with clarity of meaning; if following tradition, consult learned guidance for rite-based naming rather than choosing arbitrary or misleading forms.