Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

व्रती द्वादश संभोज्य दीपदः स्वर्गमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

vratī dvādaśa saṃbhojya dīpadaḥ svargamāpnuyāt

Translation

A vow-observing person, having fed twelve persons and having gifted a lamp, attains heaven.

Word by Word

• व्रती: the vow-observer
• व्रती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• द्वादश: twelve (persons)
• द्वादश: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक) पुंलिङ्ग (masculine; implied ‘persons’), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनार्थ (numeral used as object)

• संभोज्य: having fed (them)
• संभोज्य: Purvakala (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भोजय् (धातु √भुज्, णिच्) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive, ल्यप्), ‘having fed well’

• दीपदः: giver of lamps
• दीपदः: Karta (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप + द (प्रातिपदिक; components: दीप ‘lamp’ + द ‘giver’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणवत् (epithet of व्रती)

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Goal/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• आप्नुयात्: should attain
• आप्नुयात्: Karta (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु √आप्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific ritual merits: feeding (saṃbhojya) and dīpa-dāna generate puṇya leading to svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala doctrine: finite heavenly reward from meritorious action; implicit invitation to transcend mere svarga-seeking toward higher liberation elsewhere in the text.

Application: Combine anna-dāna with dīpa-dāna (support light/education/temple lamps); keep count/structure in charity as part of vrata discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dīpa-dāna praises and vrata-phala enumerations; Garuda Purana: feeding brāhmaṇas/guests as major puṇya

FAQs

What is the importance of dīpa-dāna (lamp donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that gifting a lamp, especially when paired with vow-observance and feeding, yields strong merit leading to svarga (heaven).

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

It links ethical-religious acts (vrata, feeding, and dāna) with post-death outcomes, presenting svarga as a karmic result of accumulated punya.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a disciplined vow (as feasible), feed others (e.g., the needy or guests) in a spirit of dharma, and offer lamp-light (temple/home) as a regular act of charity and reverence.