Shloka 4

Karketana (Karketa) Lakṣaṇa: Origin, Color-Forms, Purity Marks, and Ritual Efficacy

Devanagari script

पत्रेण काञ्चनमयेन तु वेष्टयित्वा तप्तं यदा हुतवहे भवति प्रकाशम् / रोगप्रणाशनकरं कलिनाशनं तदायुष्करं कुलकरं च सुखप्रदं च

Transliteration

patreṇa kāñcanamayena tu veṣṭayitvā taptaṃ yadā hutavahe bhavati prakāśam / rogapraṇāśanakaraṃ kalināśanaṃ tadāyuṣkaraṃ kulakaraṃ ca sukhapradaṃ ca

Translation

When it is wrapped in a golden leaf and heated in the sacred fire until it shines forth, it becomes a destroyer of disease and a remover of Kali’s ill effects; it promotes longevity, upholds one’s lineage, and bestows happiness.

Word by Word

• पत्रेण: with a leaf/foil
• पत्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• काञ्चन-मयेन: made of gold
• काञ्चन-मयेन: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (kāñcanena mayaḥ = made of gold)

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

• वेष्टयित्वा: having wrapped
• वेष्टयित्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव

• तप्तम्: heated
• तप्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (Time/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal conjunction: when)

• हुतवहे: in fire (Agni)
• हुतवहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुतवह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• भवति: becomes
• भवति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रकाशम्: bright, luminous
• प्रकाशम्: Karma (Result/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियापूरक (predicate accusative)

• रोग-प्रणाशन-करम्: destroying disease
• रोग-प्रणाशन-करम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रणाशन (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (roga-pranāśanaṃ karoti iti)

• कलि-नाशनम्: destroying Kali (evil/discord)
• कलि-नाशनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (kaleḥ nāśanam)

• तत्: that (gem)
• तत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आयुः-करम्: promoting longevity
• आयुः-करम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (āyuḥ karoti iti)

• कुल-करम्: enhancing the family line
• कुल-करम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (kulaṃ karoti/puṣṇāti iti)

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

• सुख-प्रदम्: bestowing happiness
• सुख-प्रदम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (sukhaṃ pradadāti iti)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Saṃskāra (ritual processing) purifies and empowers an object, aligning it with health, longevity, and social continuity (kula).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa upāyas within saṃsāra: ordered ritual acts aim at āyuḥ, ārogya, and loka-saṅgraha; Kali-śamana reflects dharmic preservation in declining ages.

Application: If practiced, perform consecration with purity: wrap in gold leaf, heat in a sanctified fire under guidance; then wear/use as a protective auspicious support while maintaining ethical conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space (agni/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.75.2-1.75.3 (criteria for defects and purity before processing); Garuda Purana 1.74.5 (wearing a gem for specific fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Agni (Hutavaha)
• Kali (Kali-yuga personification)

FAQs

What is the importance of heating a substance in Agni as described in this Garuda Purana verse?

This verse presents Agni-heating (fire consecration) as a way to make the prepared item spiritually potent—bringing radiance and functioning as a remover of disease and negativity.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana’s broader concerns like Kali-yuga and human well-being?

Rather than afterlife geography here, the focus is protective dharmic practice: a consecrated preparation is said to counter Kali’s harmful influence and support longevity, family continuity, and happiness.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a principle of disciplined, sattvic ritual and purification: actions done with care, purity, and sacred intent are framed as supporting health, stability, and well-being.