Shloka 9

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

Devanagari script

शूले खङ्गे पुस्तके वा पटे वा मण्डले (पे) यजेत् / कपालं खेटकं घण्टां दर्पणं तर्जनीं धनः

Transliteration

śūle khaṅge pustake vā paṭe vā maṇḍale (pe) yajet / kapālaṃ kheṭakaṃ ghaṇṭāṃ darpaṇaṃ tarjanīṃ dhanaḥ

Translation

One may worship (the deity) upon a trident, upon a sword, within a book, upon a cloth painting, or in a ritual maṇḍala. One may also worship with a skull, a shield, a bell, a mirror, the forefinger as a ritual sign, and wealth as an offering.

Word by Word

• शूले: on a trident
• शूले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular ‘on/in a trident’

• खङ्गे: on a sword
• खङ्गे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular masculine

• पुस्तके: in/on a book
• पुस्तके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular neuter

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः — ‘or’

• पटे: on a cloth
• पटे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular masculine (on a cloth/scroll)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः — ‘or’

• मण्डले: in a maṇḍala (diagram)
• मण्डले: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन — Locative singular neuter

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

• कपालम्: a skull-bowl
• कपालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular neuter

• खेटकम्: a shield
• खेटकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular neuter

• घण्टाम्: a bell
• घण्टाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular feminine

• दर्पणम्: a mirror
• दर्पणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular neuter

• तर्जनीम्: the index finger (gesture)
• तर्जनीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन — Accusative singular feminine

• धनः: wealth / (possibly) bow (textual uncertainty)
• धनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन — Nominative singular masculine (as written); संदिग्धपाठः—सम्भाव्यं ‘धनुः’ (bow) वा ‘धनम्’ (wealth)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Divine may be worshipped through diverse symbolic supports; sacredness is invoked by intention, rite, and recognized emblems.

Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upāsanā: the One approached through many forms; symbols as gateways to contemplation.

Application: Choose an appropriate worship support (image, mandala, text) consistent with tradition; treat symbols ethically (weapons/wealth) as consecrated, not for harm or vanity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (mandala/paṭa/book/weapon as support)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.133.10 (weapon-bearing iconography continues)

FAQs

What is the importance of alternative worship supports (ādhāra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that worship is not limited to a single idol-form; sacred presence can be invoked in multiple supports—weapons, texts, paintings, or a maṇḍala—according to ritual context and availability.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey here; instead, it focuses on practical ritual procedure—how worship may be performed using specific supports and implements.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain sincerity and ritual discipline: worship can be done with a text, a simple diagram, or a consecrated image, offering what is possible (including wealth/charity) while following appropriate tradition.