Shloka 5

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

यजेन्मौनी घृताद्यैश्च पञ्चगव्येन वारिभिः / स्नापयित्वाथ कर्पूरमुखैश्चैवानुलेपयेत्

Transliteration

yajenmaunī ghṛtādyaiśca pañcagavyena vāribhiḥ / snāpayitvātha karpūramukhaiścaivānulepayet

Translation

Observant le silence sacré (maunī), on doit accomplir le culte avec le ghee et des offrandes semblables, ainsi qu’avec l’eau préparée du pañcagavya (les cinq produits de la vache). Après avoir baigné (la Divinité/śālagrāma/liṅga ou l’icône de vénération), on l’oindra ensuite de substances commençant par le camphre et autres parfums.

Word by Word

• यजेत्: should worship/perform sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• मौनी: the silent one (observer of silence)
• मौनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular)

• घृताद्यैः: with ghee etc.
• घृताद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural); घृत-आदि = ‘ghee and the like’

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

• पञ्चगव्येन: with pañcagavya (five cow-products)
• पञ्चगव्येन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular); पञ्चगव्य = five cow-products

• वारिभिः: with waters
• वारिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• स्नापयित्वा: having bathed (him)/having caused (him) to bathe
• स्नापयित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्ना (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having caused to bathe’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरबोधक अव्यय (sequencing particle: then)

• कर्पूरमुखैः: with camphor and the like
• कर्पूरमुखैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पूर + मुख (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural); कर्पूरमुख = camphor etc. as chief/foremost (i.e., camphor-headed substances)

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

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

• अनुलेपयेत्: should anoint/smear
• अनुलेपयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + लिप् (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्; ‘cause to be anointed/smeared’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vainateya, typical dialogue frame of the Garuḍa Purāṇa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upacāra-bhakti: devotion expressed through disciplined purity (mauna), abhiṣeka, and anulepana using sanctifying substances like pañcagavya and camphor.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-sevā as citta-śuddhi leading toward sāttvika steadiness; the Lord approached through name/form while remembering His transcendence.

Application: Maintain a focused, distraction-free worship period; use simple, clean offerings; treat bathing/anointing as mindful service rather than mere procedure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: griha-mandira/puja-sthana

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.123.6-9 (five-day regimen; dhupa/naivedya/japa; limb-wise worship)

Characters & Entities

• Pañcagavya
• Ghṛta (ghee)
• Karpūra (camphor)
• Mauna (silence as a vow)

FAQs

What is the importance of pañcagavya in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pañcagavya-water as a purificatory medium used in worship and ablution, emphasizing ritual cleanliness and sanctification before anointing and further offerings.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it belongs to the conduct/ritual instructions section, where purity, restraint (mauna), and correct worship are taught as dhārmic disciplines that support auspicious karma rather than describing the post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain focused restraint (silence/attention) during prayer, prioritize cleanliness and reverence in worship, and use traditional purificatory and fragrant substances (where culturally appropriate) as part of a disciplined devotional routine.