Shloka 9

Devanagari script

वासुदेवाख्यतत्त्वेन हुत्वा चाष्टोत्तरं शतम् / संकर्षणादिबीजेन यजेत्षट्कं तथैव च

Transliteration

vāsudevākhyatattvena hutvā cāṣṭottaraṃ śatam / saṃkarṣaṇādibījena yajetṣaṭkaṃ tathaiva ca

Translation

Having offered oblations one hundred and eight times with the tattva known as Vāsudeva, one should likewise perform the ṣaṭka, the set of six rites, using the seed-mantra beginning with Saṅkarṣaṇa.

Word by Word

• वासुदेवाख्यतत्त्वेन: by/with the principle called Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवाख्यतत्त्वेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (वासुदेव-आख्यं तत्त्वम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हुत्वा: having offered (oblation)
• हुत्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हु (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

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

• अष्टोत्तरम्: one hundred and eight
• अष्टोत्तरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (अष्टोत्तर = 108), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (शतम्)

• शतम्: a hundred (count)
• शतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संकर्षणादिबीजेन: with the seed-mantra of Saṅkarṣaṇa etc.
• संकर्षणादिबीजेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकर्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (संकर्षण-आदि-बीजम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यजेत्: should worship/perform sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• षट्कम्: the set of six
• षट्कम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रत्यय)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (षट्क = sixfold set), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus/likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (indeed/just)

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

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (speaking to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vyūha-tattva upāsanā: offerings aligned to Vāsudeva principle and Saṅkarṣaṇa bīja, using sacred counts and structured sub-rites.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-brahma upāsanā through mantra and number (saṅkhyā) as aids to steadiness; disciplined karma offered to Īśvara.

Application: Maintain exact counts (108) and correct bīja usage; treat repetition as concentration training, not mere quantity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: homa-kuṇḍa within maṇḍala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.12.10 (dikpāla offerings and pūrṇāhuti)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Saṅkarṣaṇa

FAQs

What is the importance of offering 108 oblations in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse prescribes 108 offerings as a complete, disciplined count for homa, performed with Vāsudeva-tattva to align the rite with Viṣṇu-centered worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes correct mantra-based ritual performance (homa and associated rites) as part of dharmic practice that supports spiritual purification and auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If one follows Vaiṣṇava practice, perform worship with clear intention, correct mantra discipline, and traditional counts (like 108), ideally under guidance of a qualified teacher/priest.