Shloka 54

Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa

Devanagari script

अपोशनेवैश्वदेवस्य काले तदन्यहोमादिषु भस्मधारणे / स्मरेत्तु भक्त्या परमादरेण नारायणं जामदग्न्याख्यरामम्

Transliteration

apośanevaiśvadevasya kāle tadanyahomādiṣu bhasmadhāraṇe / smarettu bhaktyā paramādareṇa nārāyaṇaṃ jāmadagnyākhyarāmam

Translation

Pada waktu persembahan Vaiśvadeva, saat ācaman (apōśana), demikian pula dalam homa-homa lainnya dan ketika mengenakan abu suci—dengan bhakti dan hormat tertinggi—ingatlah Nārāyaṇa, yakni Rāma yang dikenal sebagai Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma).

Word by Word

• अपोशने: at sipping water
• अपोशने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपोशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• वैश्वदेवस्य: of the Vaiśvadeva rite
• वैश्वदेवस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्वदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• काले: at the time
• काले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘अन्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (that/its)

• अन्यहोमादिषु: in other homas and the like
• अन्यहोमादिषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य-होम-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; समासः—अन्यः होमः (कर्मधारय) + आदि (etc.)

• भस्मधारणे: at the wearing of sacred ash
• भस्मधारणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म-धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—भस्मनः धारणम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• स्मरेत्: should remember
• स्मरेत्: क्रिया (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थ-अव्यय (particle)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (instrumental: with/by devotion)

• परमादरेण: with highest reverence
• परमादरेण: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय—परमः आदरः

• नारायणम्: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• जामदग्न्याख्यरामम्: Rāma known as Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma)
• जामदग्न्याख्यरामम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जामदग्न्य-आख्य-राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—जामदग्न्य इति आख्यः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः) + रामः (सम्बन्ध/समानाधिकरण)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Performing Vaiśvadeva, ācamana, other homas, and even bhasma-dhāraṇa with devoted remembrance of Nārāyaṇa as Jāmadagnya Rāma.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga within bhakti: external rites become inner worship when offered with devotion and reverence.

Application: At ācamana and Vaiśvadeva, consciously invoke Nārāyaṇa; during homa and while applying bhasma, maintain focused smṛti rather than mechanical performance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: home altar/agnikārya space; ācamana spot

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.29 (continued mapping of rites to Viṣṇu forms; emphasis on bhaktyā paramādareṇa)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Parashurama (Jamadagnya Rama)
• Vaishvadeva
• Homa
• Bhasma (sacred ash)

FAQs

What is the importance of remembering Nārāyaṇa during Vaiśvadeva and homa rites in the Garuda Purana?

This verse teaches that ritual acts become spiritually complete when joined with bhakti—conscious remembrance of Nārāyaṇa—especially at key daily rites like Vaiśvadeva, ācamana, and homa.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teaching on dharma and spiritual protection?

By prescribing remembrance during routine observances, it emphasizes steady devotional discipline (smaraṇa) as a protective, merit-building dharma that sanctifies actions beyond mere external performance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During daily prayers, meals-offerings, or any worship (including applying vibhūti/bhasma), pause briefly to remember Nārāyaṇa/Paraśurāma with reverence—keeping intention and devotion central.