Shloka 13

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

नवमी चोग्रचण्डा च मध्यमाग्निप्रभाकृतिः / रोचना त्वरुणा कृष्णा नीलं धूम्रा च शुक्रका

Transliteration

navamī cogracaṇḍā ca madhyamāgniprabhākṛtiḥ / rocanā tvaruṇā kṛṣṇā nīlaṃ dhūmrā ca śukrakā

Translation

The ninth is called Navamī; and also Ugracaṇḍā; Madhyamā, whose form is like the radiance of fire; Rocanā; Tvaruṇā; Kṛṣṇā; Nīlā; Dhūmrā; and Śukrakā.

Word by Word

• नवमी: the ninth (name)
• नवमी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

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

• उग्र-चण्डा: Ugracaṇḍā (name)
• उग्र-चण्डा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + चण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः

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

• मध्यम-अग्नि-प्रभा-कृतिः: one whose form is like the radiance of a middling fire (name)
• मध्यम-अग्नि-प्रभा-कृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक) + कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष-श्रृङ्खला (मध्यमस्य अग्नेः प्रभा इव कृतिः/आकृतिः)

• रोचना: Rocanā (name)
• रोचना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोचना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• त्वरुणा: Tvaruṇā (name; swift)
• त्वरुणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वरुणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पाठभेदसम्भवः (त्वरिता/त्वरुणा)

• कृष्णा: black/dark (name)
• कृष्णा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/नाम

• नीलम्: blue (name)
• नीलम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/नाम; (पाठे स्त्रीलिङ्ग ‘नीला’ अपेक्ष्य)

• धूम्रा: smoky/grey (name)
• धूम्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/नाम

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

• शुक्रका: bright/whitish (name)
• शुक्रका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुक्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/नाम

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Divine power is approached through specific forms, radiances, and colors—each a doorway for focused devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā: the mind is led from form and quality toward inner steadiness and ultimately the formless ground.

Application: Choose one named form/color (e.g., fire-radiant Madhyamā or Nīlā) as iṣṭa-dhyāna for daily protective remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.133.12 (name-list continues); Garuda Purana 1.133.14 (additional colors/stances/mount); Garuda Purana 1.133.15 (mantra and worship objects)

FAQs

What is the importance of these names in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a catalog of specific named beings/forces described in the Preta-khaṇḍa narrative, emphasizing the structured (and often fearsome) landscape encountered in after-death accounts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than giving a moral instruction directly, it enumerates named presences associated with the post-death journey narrative, supporting the text’s broader depiction of the soul’s passage through ordered stations and experiences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a reminder to live with dharma and preparedness for death—supporting ethical conduct, remembrance of mortality, and (where culturally relevant) timely performance of antyeṣṭi and śrāddha-related duties.