Shloka 4

Gaṇapati-Mantra Siddhi, Vighna-Nivāraṇa Rites, Vśīkaraṇa-Style Applications, and Cikitsā

Therapeutic Formulas

Devanagari script

अष्टम्याञ्च चतुर्दश्यामुपोष्याभ्यर्च्य विघ्नराट् / तिलाक्षतानां जुहुयादष्टोत्तरसहस्रकम् / अपाजितः स्याद्युद्धे च सर्वे तञ्च सिषेविरे

Transliteration

aṣṭamyāñca caturdaśyāmupoṣyābhyarcya vighnarāṭ / tilākṣatānāṃ juhuyādaṣṭottarasahasrakam / apājitaḥ syādyuddhe ca sarve tañca siṣevire

Translation

Aux huitième et quatorzième jours lunaires, après avoir jeûné (upoṣa) et adoré Vighnarāja, le Seigneur qui ôte les obstacles, qu’on verse au feu des oblations de sésame mêlé d’akṣata (grain de riz intact) au nombre de mille huit. Ainsi devient-on invaincu même au combat; en vérité, tous ont eu recours à cette pratique.

Word by Word

• aṣṭamyām: on the eighth (lunar day)
• aṣṭamyām: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• caturdaśyām: on the fourteenth (lunar day)
• caturdaśyām: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturdaśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• upoṣya: having fasted
• upoṣya: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa + √vas (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थे अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund): उपोष्य = having fasted

• abhyarcya: having worshipped
• abhyarcya: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + √arc (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थे अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund): having worshipped

• vighnarāṭ: the lord of obstacles (Gaṇeśa)
• vighnarāṭ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vighna + rāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विघ्नानां राट् = lord of obstacles)

• tilākṣatānām: of sesame and unbroken rice grains
• tilākṣatānām: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tila + akṣata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (tila + akṣata)

• juhuyāt: should offer (into fire)
• juhuyāt: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hu (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• aṣṭa: eight
• aṣṭa: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭan (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण; समासाङ्ग

• uttara: additional (over)
• uttara: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; समासाङ्ग

• sahasrakam: (a count of) one thousand and eight
• sahasrakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (aṣṭottara+sahasraka = 1008 count)

• apājitaḥ: unconquered, undefeated
• apājitaḥ: Karta (Predicate complement/कर्तृसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apājita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• syāt: would be / may become
• syāt: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• yuddhe: in battle
• yuddhe: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• sarve: all (of them)
• sarve: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (all people)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

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

• siṣevire: served, attended upon
• siṣevire: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sev (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Observance (upavāsa), devotion (abhyarcana), and offering (homa) aligned with auspicious tithis are taught as means to overcome obstacles and gain protection.

Vedantic Theme: Ishvara-anugraha mediated through disciplined observance; steadiness of mind as the hidden ‘vighna-nāśa’.

Application: Use periodic fasting/discipline to strengthen resolve; begin major undertakings with obstacle-removal prayers and ethical intention; cultivate courage through routine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: temple/altar and homa space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.185.2-3, 1.185.5-6 (same ritual-mantric sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vighnaraja (Ganesha)

FAQs

What is the importance of fasting on Ashtami and Chaturdashi in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Ashtami and Chaturdashi fasting, paired with worship of Vighnarāja, as a focused observance to remove impediments and secure protection, culminating in being “unconquered” in challenging situations.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Rather than describing the soul’s post-death journey, this verse emphasizes preparatory dharmic practice—vrata, worship, and homa—meant to reduce obstacles and strengthen auspicious outcomes in life, aligning with the Purana’s broader stress on ritual efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe a disciplined fast (as appropriate), perform sincere Ganesha worship, and undertake a counted offering or mantra-japa practice (symbolically “1008”) to cultivate steadiness, remove hindrances, and act with clarity during conflicts.