Shloka 7

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

ॐ नमो वासुदेवाय घृतव्रीहितिलादिकम् / अष्टाक्षरेण मन्त्रेण स्वाहान्तेन तु होमयेत्

Transliteration

oṃ namo vāsudevāya ghṛtavrīhitilādikam / aṣṭākṣareṇa mantreṇa svāhāntena tu homayet

Translation

Con el mantra de ocho sílabas «Oṁ namo Vāsudevāya», debe realizarse el homa, ofreciendo al fuego ghee, arroz, sésamo y oblaciones semejantes, concluyendo cada ofrenda con la palabra «svāhā».

Word by Word

• ॐ: Om
• ॐ: Sambandha (Invocation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव (sacred syllable), अव्यय

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Salutation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular); अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (used as indeclinable-like in salutation)

• वासुदेवाय: to Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन (singular)

• घृतव्रीहितिलादिकम्: ghee, rice, sesame etc. (oblation materials)
• घृतव्रीहितिलादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + व्रीहि + तिल + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular); ‘ghee, rice, sesame etc.’ (havis)

• अष्टाक्षरेण: with the eight-syllabled (mantra)
• अष्टाक्षरेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular)

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular)

• स्वाहान्तेन: ending with ‘svāhā’
• स्वाहान्तेन: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular); मन्त्रविशेषण (qualifying ‘mantra’): ending with ‘svāhā’

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषणार्थक/विरोधार्थक अव्यय (particle)

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-centered offering: the Lord is approached through His name (Vāsudeva) and through yajña-like surrender (svāhā) of sāttvika oblations.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma as upāsanā-pratīka; karma offered to Īśvara becomes yoga (karma-yoga) and purifies the doer.

Application: If performing homa is not feasible, retain the essence: chant ‘Oṁ namo Vāsudevāya’ with intentional ‘offering’ of breath, attention, and a simple lamp/food charity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: agnikunda/puja-vedi

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.123.6 (108 japa); Garuda Purana 1.123.8-9 (day-wise limb worship)

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Aṣṭākṣarī mantra in Garuda Purana?

This verse presents the Aṣṭākṣarī ‘Oṁ namo Vāsudevāya’ as a primary mantra for fire-offerings, linking Viṣṇu-devotion with ritual acts meant to generate merit and auspiciousness in transitional rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it prescribes a Viṣṇu-centered homa using pure oblations, implying that devotional offerings and mantra-ritual support spiritual purification and beneficial outcomes connected to post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the mantra with reverence in simple, orthodox offerings (where appropriate and guided by tradition), emphasizing purity, devotion, and disciplined ritual intent rather than mere formality.