Shloka 26

Preta-Mokṣa Upāya: Svapna-Lakṣaṇa, Pitṛ-Doṣa, and Prescribed Rites

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

नवमे दशमे वर्षे पिक्षुद्देशेन वै पुमान् / गायत्त्रीमयुतं जप्त्वा दशांशेन च होमयेत्

Transliteration

navame daśame varṣe pikṣuddeśena vai pumān / gāyattrīmayutaṃ japtvā daśāṃśena ca homayet

Translation

Im neunten und zehnten Jahr soll ein Mann gemäß der rituellen Weisung die Gāyatrī zehntausendmal rezitieren und danach ein homa mit einem Zehntel dieser Zahl darbringen.

Word by Word

• नवमे: in the ninth
• नवमे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वर्षे)

• दशमे: in the tenth
• दशमे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वर्षे)

• वर्षे: in the year
• वर्षे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• पिक्षु-उद्देशेन: with reference to ‘pikṣu’ (as designated)
• पिक्षु-उद्देशेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक; पाठान्तर/दुर्लभ-शब्दः) + उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पिक्षोः उद्देशः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• पुमान्: a man
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गायत्रीमयुतम्: ten thousand (recitations) of the Gāyatrī
• गायत्रीमयुतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री (प्रातिपदिक) + अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/द्विग्वर्थः (गायत्र्याः अयुतम् = ten-thousand of Gāyatrī [japa])

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); √जप् (जपे) — ‘having recited’

• दशांशेन: with a tenth part (as the portion)
• दशांशेन: Karana (Instrument/Measure/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशांश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘one-tenth portion’

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

• होमयेत्: should perform homa; should offer oblations
• होमयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु) → होमय (णिच् causative stem)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative/denominative from होम) — ‘should offer in fire / perform homa’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-japa (Gāyatrī) with proportional homa (one-tenth) as a structured sādhana; efficacy arises from measure, timing, and adherence to vidhi.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-catuṣṭaya support via discipline and purity; mantra as a means to refine mind and align with dharma.

Application: Set measurable spiritual commitments (counted recitation) and complete them with a tangible offering/service component (homa/charity), maintaining consistency over time.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual ground (agniśālā)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: puraścaraṇa-related instructions and ancillary homa proportions (contextual with 2.21.22–23)

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri

FAQs

What is the importance of Gayatri japa and homa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes a specific discipline—10,000 Gāyatrī recitations followed by a homa of one-tenth—framing japa and fire-offering as a structured rite for purification and dharmic merit.

How does this verse relate to the soul’s journey and post-death rites in the Preta Kanda?

In the Preta Kanda’s ritual context, such mantra-japa and homa are presented as supportive religious acts that strengthen purity and merit, which are repeatedly emphasized as beneficial in rites connected with death, śrāddha, and the welfare of the departed.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If following tradition under guidance, one may adopt disciplined mantra practice (japa) and pair it with a proportional offering (homa), keeping the focus on regularity, purity of intention, and dharmic living.