Shloka 4

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

नवमी केवला चापि दुर्गां चैव तु पूजयेत् / महाव्रतं महापुण्यं शङ्कराद्यैरनुष्ठितम्

Transliteration

navamī kevalā cāpi durgāṃ caiva tu pūjayet / mahāvrataṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ śaṅkarādyairanuṣṭhitam

Translation

ナヴァミー（第九日）には、ナヴァミーの斎戒を別の行として守り、女神ドゥルガーを礼拝すべきである。これは大いなる誓願・大いなる功徳であり、シャンカラ（シヴァ）ら尊き者たちも修した。

Word by Word

• navamī: the ninth (tithi)
• navamī: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: navamī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• kevalā: alone/only
• kevalā: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), अपि (also/even)

• durgām: Durgā
• durgām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durgā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• tu: but/then
• tu: Sambandha (Contrast/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adversative/contrast particle)

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (Injunctive/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• mahāvratam: a great vow
• mahāvratam: Karma/Pratipadya (Apposition/कर्म-प्रातिपाद्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• mahāpuṇyam: greatly meritorious
• mahāpuṇyam: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• śaṅkara-ādyaiḥ: by Śaṅkara and others
• śaṅkara-ādyaiḥ: Karana (Agentive instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; 'शङ्करः आदिः येषां तैः' (Śaṅkara and others)

• anuṣṭhitam: performed/observed
• anuṣṭhitam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuṣṭhita (कृदन्त, √sthā with anu-)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vrata (austerity) and Devī-upāsanā as dharmic means to accrue mahāpuṇya; exemplified by Śaṅkara and revered beings.

Vedantic Theme: Śakti-upāsanā within dharma as mind-purification; devotion and discipline supporting inner steadiness.

Application: Observe Navamī vrata with restraint; perform Durgā pūjā (offerings, stotra, lamp, charity) with sincerity and ethical conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vrata chapters praising specific tithis and devatā-pūjā; Garuda Purana: patterns of ‘mahāvrata/mahāpuṇya’ and exemplars (devas/ṛṣis) to authorize practice

Characters & Entities

• Durgā
• Śaṅkara (Śiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of Navamī worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Navamī as a distinct, powerful observance: worship of Durgā on the ninth lunar day is called a mahāvrata that yields great puṇya.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it emphasizes dharmic observance and merit (puṇya), which the Garuda Purana treats as supportive factors for a favorable post-death trajectory and spiritual well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe Navamī with a focused vow—simple fasting/discipline as appropriate—and perform Durgā worship with sincerity, treating it as a dedicated day of devotional practice and ethical restraint.