Shloka 16

Durgā Pūjā, 108-Nāma Japa, and Protective Homa in Preta-Kalpa Observance

Devanagari script

जय त्वं किल भूतेशे सर्वभूतसमावृते / रक्ष मां निजभूतेभ्यो वलिं गृह्ण नमो ऽस्तु ते

Transliteration

jaya tvaṃ kila bhūteśe sarvabhūtasamāvṛte / rakṣa māṃ nijabhūtebhyo valiṃ gṛhṇa namo 'stu te

Translation

Victory to you indeed, O Lord of beings, encompassed by all beings. Protect me from your own spirits; accept this offering—salutations to you.

Word by Word

• जय: conquer / be victorious
• जय: Sambodhana/Prayojaka (Addressed action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जि (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्य), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• किल: indeed/it is said
• किल: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/hearsay)

• भूतेशे: O lord of beings
• भूतेशे: Sambodhana (Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भूतानाम् ईशः = ‘lord of beings’)

• सर्व-भूत-समावृते: O (one) surrounded by all beings
• सर्व-भूत-समावृते: Visheshana (Qualifier of vocative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + समावृत (कृदन्त; सम्+आ+√वृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सर्वैः भूतैः समावृतः = ‘surrounded by all beings’); विशेषणम् (भूतेशे)

• रक्ष: protect
• रक्ष: Kriya (Requested action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निज-भूतेभ्यः: from your own beings/attendants
• निज-भूतेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (निजानि भूतानि = ‘one’s own beings/attendants’)

• वलिम्: offering/tribute (bali)
• वलिम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• गृह्ण: accept/take
• गृह्ण: Kriya (Requested action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; (गृह्ण = गृहाण का वैदिक/छान्दस संक्षिप्त रूप)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग)
• Form: निपातवत् अव्यय-प्रयोग (indeclinable interjection used with dative/genitive)

• अस्तु: let it be
• अस्तु: Kriya (Benediction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

A devotee/ritual performer addressing Bhūteśa (a form/title of Śiva as Lord of bhūtas)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and bali/naivedya as a means to pacify fear and align with cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as antaryāmin ‘encompassed by all beings’; surrender reduces fear born of duality.

Application: In anxiety or perceived negativity, adopt humility, prayer, and ethical offerings (non-harmful, sattvic) rather than aggression; cultivate refuge in the divine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: protective prayers and bali offerings in contexts of bhūta-preta fear (motif-level)

Characters & Entities

• Bhūteśa
• Bhūtas

FAQs

What is the importance of bali (offering) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents bali as a pacifying, protective act—an offering made with reverence so harmful influences (bhūtas) are restrained and the devotee is safeguarded.

How does this verse explain protection from spirits or bhūtas?

It frames protection as coming from the supreme controller of such beings (Bhūteśa): by praising him and requesting shelter, the devotee seeks immunity from disturbances caused by his attendant spirits.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach fear and uncertainty with disciplined reverence: perform prescribed offerings ethically, avoid harmful actions, and cultivate a prayerful mind seeking protection through dharma.