Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

अर्धरात्रे त्रियामे च चतुर्थे च पुनयर्जत् / मूलमन्त्रं तथा जप्त्वा प्रभाते तु क्षमापयेत्

Transliteration

ardharātre triyāme ca caturthe ca punayarjat / mūlamantraṃ tathā japtvā prabhāte tu kṣamāpayet

Translation

At midnight, again in the third watch, and again in the fourth watch, one should perform worship once more. Having likewise repeated the root-mantra (mūla-mantra), at dawn one should seek forgiveness for any omissions or faults in the rite.

Word by Word

• अर्धरात्रे: at midnight
• अर्धरात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्धरात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘अर्धं रात्रेः’

• त्रियामे: in the third watch of the night
• त्रियामे: Adhikarana (Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रियाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• चतुर्थे: in the fourth (watch)
• चतुर्थे: Adhikarana (Location/Time)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (watch implied), सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: again)

• यर्जत्: worship/perform sacrifice
• यर्जत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; पाठभेद-संभावना: ‘यजेत्/यर्जेत्’ (optative)

• मूलमन्त्रम्: the root-mantra
• मूलमन्त्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘मूलः मन्त्रः’

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

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Purvakala (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having recited’

• प्रभाते: in the morning
• प्रभाते: Adhikarana (Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• क्षमापयेत्: should seek forgiveness / propitiate
• क्षमापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative): ‘cause to forgive’ = ‘seek forgiveness’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda / Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vrata requires temporal discipline (night watches), mantra-japa, and humility through seeking forgiveness for lapses.

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through niyama and kṣamā; surrender of doership by acknowledging imperfection.

Application: Structure observances with clear time-points; maintain mantra repetition; end with a formal apology/prāyaścitta-like kṣamā to address omissions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual vigil setting (home/temple)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana vrata/ācāra passages: emphasis on niśā-jāgaraṇa, mantra-japa, and kṣamā at completion

FAQs

What is the importance of seeking forgiveness (kṣamā) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse instructs that after repeated worship and mūlamantra-japa through the night, one should ask forgiveness at dawn for any ritual lapses, emphasizing humility and completion of the rite.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly, it highlights disciplined mantra-based observance and ritual correctness—practices the Garuda Purana frequently links with dharmic merit and spiritual preparedness, including in death-related contexts.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If you do any mantra, vrata, or puja, maintain regularity, repeat the core mantra with focus, and conclude with a sincere request for forgiveness for mistakes—supporting ethical, attentive practice.