Shloka 19

Aghora-Mantra Japa: Graded Expiations, Pañcagavya Purification, and Homa for Mahāpātaka-Nivṛtti

Devanagari script

गन्धद्वारेति तस्या वै गोमयं स्वस्थम् आहरेत् तेजो ऽसि शुक्तम् इत्याज्यं कापिलं संहरेद्बुधः

Transliteration

gandhadvāreti tasyā vai gomayaṃ svastham āharet tejo 'si śuktam ityājyaṃ kāpilaṃ saṃharedbudhaḥ

Translation

Recitando el mantra que comienza con «gandha-dvāre…», debe traer estiércol de vaca puro y saludable. Recitando «tejo ’si…», el practicante sabio debe también recoger ājya, la mantequilla clarificada, de una vaca Kapilā—digna de ser ofrecida en el culto de Śiva.

Word by Word

• गन्धद्वारेति (gandhadvāra iti): with the mantra beginning “gandha-dvāra-”

• तस्या वै (tasyā vai): for that (rite), indeed

• गोमयम् (gomayam): cow-dung

• स्वस्थम् (svastham): pure, sound, wholesome

• आहरेत् (āharet): should bring/obtain

• तेजो ऽसि (tejo 'si): “you are radiance/tejas” (mantra opening)

• शुक्तम् (śuktam): “well-spoken/declared” (as a mantra-formula)

• इति (iti): thus

• आज्यम् (ājyam): ghee/clarified butter

• कापिलम् (kāpilam): from a tawny cow (kapilā)

• संहरेत् (saṃharet): should gather/collect

• बुधः (budhaḥ): the wise (ritual knower).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prescribes mantra-guided collection of puja materials—pure cow-dung and kapilā-cow ghee—emphasizing śuddhi (ritual purity) as the foundation for offering to the Linga, the emblem of Pati (Śiva).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By linking offerings to mantras like “tejo ’si” (radiance), the verse frames worship as approaching Śiva as Tejas itself—Pati, the luminous consciousness who purifies Pashu (the bound soul) from Pāśa (impurity/bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A puja-vidhi step: dravya-saṅgraha (collecting offerings) with Vedic mantras, reflecting the Pāśupata discipline of external purity supporting inner steadiness and devotion in Linga-upāsanā.