Shloka 64

Devatā-Pratiṣṭhā: Maṇḍapa Construction, Dikpāla Worship, Kalaśa-Abhiṣeka, Nyāsa and Homa Procedures

Devanagari script

कुण्डं चास्त्रेण संप्रोक्ष्य आचार्यस्तु विशेषतः / ताम्रपात्रे शरावे वा यथाविभवतो ऽपि वा

Transliteration

kuṇḍaṃ cāstreṇa saṃprokṣya ācāryastu viśeṣataḥ / tāmrapātre śarāve vā yathāvibhavato 'pi vā

Translation

Having sprinkled the fire-pit (kuṇḍa) with the prescribed mantra, the officiating ācārya in particular should perform the rite using a copper vessel or an earthen bowl, according to one’s means.

Word by Word

• कुण्डम्: the fire-pit
• कुण्डम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• अस्त्रेण: with the Astra (weapon-mantra)
• अस्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• संप्रोक्ष्य: having sprinkled (purified)
• संप्रोक्ष्य: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः—संप्रोक्ष्य = sprinkling/purifying after sprinkling

• आचार्यः: the teacher/priest
• आचार्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; contrast/emphasis)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• ताम्रपात्रे: in a copper vessel
• ताम्रपात्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रपात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः—ताम्रस्य पात्रम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शरावे: in a bowl/dish
• शरावे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शराव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• यथाविभवतः: according to one’s means
• यथाविभवतः: Sambandha (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा + विभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययत्वेन प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle; inclusion/emphasis)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity via mantra-sprinkling and the principle of ‘yathā-vibhava’—performing with appropriate materials according to capacity.

Vedantic Theme: Right action (niyata-karma) with inner sincerity; external means are secondary to sanctified intent and correct procedure.

Application: Maintain core sanctifying steps (purification, intention, correctness) while choosing affordable, clean implements.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure (homa-kuṇḍa area)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48 (homa setup and mantra-acts like astra/kavaca)

FAQs

What is the importance of consecrating the kuṇḍa (fire-pit) in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse emphasizes saṃprokṣaṇa—sanctifying the ritual space with the prescribed mantra—so the rite is performed in a ritually purified and properly invoked setting.

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

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it gives procedural guidance for correct ritual performance, which the Garuda Purana presents as supportive of dharma and proper samskāra observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform essential rites with correctness and sincerity, adapting materials (copper vessel or simple earthen bowl) to your capacity while keeping the mantra-based sanctification central.