Shloka 5

Graha-yajña-vidhi

Procedure for the Planetary Sacrifice

Devanagari script

स्थापयेद्गहवर्णानि होमार्थं प्रलिखेत्पटे / स्नापयेद्धोमयेच्चैव ग्रहद्रव्यैर्विधानतः / सुवर्णानि प्रदेयानि वासांसि सुसुमानि च

Transliteration

sthāpayedgahavarṇāni homārthaṃ pralikhetpaṭe / snāpayeddhomayeccaiva grahadravyairvidhānataḥ / suvarṇāni pradeyāni vāsāṃsi susumāni ca

Translation

Para el sacrificio de fuego (homa), deben disponerse las representaciones de los colores de los graha (planetas) y trazarse sobre un paño. Luego han de ser bañadas y, conforme al rito, realizarse el homa con las sustancias prescritas para cada graha. Debe darse en caridad oro, junto con vestiduras y flores exquisitas.

Word by Word

• स्थापयेत्: should place/establish
• स्थापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदम्; causative (णिच्)

• गहवर्णानि: planetary letters/colors
• गहवर्णानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); ग्रहस्य वर्णानि (planetary letters/colors)

• होम-अर्थम्: for the purpose of homa
• होम-अर्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• प्रलिखेत्: should draw/inscribe
• प्रलिखेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिख् (धातु) + प्र-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदम्

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

• स्नापयेत्: should bathe (cause to be bathed)
• स्नापयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदम्; causative (णिच्)

• होमयेत्: should offer in homa (cause offering)
• होमयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपदम्; causative (णिच्)

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

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• ग्रहद्रव्यैः: with materials for the planets
• ग्रहद्रव्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• विधानतः: according to the prescribed procedure
• विधानतः: Sambandha (Manner/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘according to rule/procedure’

• सुवर्णानि: gold (items)
• सुवर्णानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• प्रदेयानि: to be given/should be donated
• प्रदेयानि: Vidhi (Injunction/विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-दा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विधेय (to be given)

• वासांसि: garments
• वासांसि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस्/वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• सुसुमानि: good flowers
• सुसुमानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + सुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); ‘सु-सुम’ = good flowers

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual correctness (vidhi) and dana as means to align human life with cosmic order (ṛta) and mitigate graha-related afflictions.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kanda as preparatory purification (citta-shuddhi) supporting higher pursuit; recognition of cosmic governance without denying the Supreme.

Application: Perform prescribed graha-homa with proper materials and conclude with charity (gold, clothing, flowers) as an ethical completion of ritual power.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (yajna-vedi/grihya-agni setting)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.101 (graha-homa/vidhi sequence continuing through mantras, offerings, and samidh lists)

Characters & Entities

• Grahas (planetary deities)

FAQs

What is the importance of graha-related homa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a structured graha-rite: drawing planetary representations, ritually bathing them, offering homa with planet-specific substances, and concluding with charity—indicating that ritual plus dāna is central to pacifying planetary influences.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes corrective rites (homa and dāna) meant to remove obstacles and inauspicious influences, which in Garuda Purana contexts supports smoother spiritual progress and the proper performance of dharmic duties.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If undertaking traditional rites, follow a rule-based procedure (vidhānataḥ) and pair worship with charity—donating according to capacity (e.g., clothes/flowers, or gold where appropriate) as an ethical completion of ritual action.