Shloka 1

Dīkṣā Procedure: Homa Measures, Elemental Reconstitution, and Naming by Omen

Devanagari script

नामाष्टमो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / समये (या) दीक्षितः शिष्यो बद्धनेत्रस्तु वाससा / अष्टाहुतिशतं तस्य मूलमन्त्रेण होमयेत्

Transliteration

nāmāṣṭamo 'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / samaye (yā) dīkṣitaḥ śiṣyo baddhanetrastu vāsasā / aṣṭāhutiśataṃ tasya mūlamantreṇa homayet

Translation

Hari bersabda: Pada waktu yang tepat, murid yang telah diinisiasi—dengan mata tertutup kain—hendaknya mempersembahkan seratus delapan oblation ke api dengan mantra pokok.

Word by Word

• नाम: (called) ‘Name’
• नाम: Karta (Appositional title)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; शीर्षकवाचक

• अष्टमः: eighth
• अष्टमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषणम् (अध्यायः इति विशेष्य)

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (Speaker/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• समये: at the time
• समये: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• दीक्षितः: initiated
• दीक्षितः: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘initiated’

• शिष्यः: disciple
• शिष्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बद्धनेत्रः: with eyes bound
• बद्धनेत्रः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बद्ध + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (बद्धं नेत्रं यस्य)

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• वाससा: with a cloth/garment
• वाससा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• अष्टाहुतिशतम्: a hundred (sets) of eight oblations / eight-hundred oblations (as a fixed count)
• अष्टाहुतिशतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + आहुति + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (अष्टानाम् आहुतिनां शतम्)

• तस्य: of him/of that (disciple)
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मूलमन्त्रेण: with the root-mantra
• मूलमन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• होमयेत्: should perform oblations (homa)
• होमयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) + विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘should cause to offer / should perform homa’

Speaker

Hari (Lord Vishnu)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-homa performed in prescribed count (108) at the proper time consolidates dīkṣā and activates the mūla-mantra’s efficacy.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as purificatory support (citta-śuddhi) for higher realization; śraddhā and guru-śiṣya transmission as prerequisites.

Application: Follow initiation protocol; perform 108 āhutis with the root mantra, keeping count, purity, and focused intention; treat the blindfold as symbol of ego-suspension and trust in the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual enclosure

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.9.2 (graded multipliers of homa); Garuda Purana 1.8.14-16 (nyāsa/pūjā as allied practices)

FAQs

What is the importance of 108 oblations (aṣṭāhutiśata) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes 108 offerings as a complete, disciplined count for a mantra-homa, marking ritual fullness and focused repetition under initiation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does so indirectly: by emphasizing dīkṣā, mantra, and homa as purificatory disciplines that support dharma and spiritual readiness—foundational themes that later connect to post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Undertake mantra and fire-ritual practices only with proper initiation and timing under a competent teacher, keeping the practice precise (count, method, and mantra).