Shloka 14

Śivarātri Vrata: Timing, Accidental Merit, and the Complete Night-Vigil Procedure

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

After bathing (the sacred image) with the five products of the cow (pañcagavya) and with nectar (amṛta), and at that time taking refuge in one’s guru, one should worship the Lord with fragrances and other offerings, reciting: “Oṁ, salutations, salutations to Śiva (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.