Shloka 23

Preta-Mokṣa Upāya: Svapna-Lakṣaṇa, Pitṛ-Doṣa, and Prescribed Rites

Kṛṣṇa-bali & Nārāyaṇa-bali

Devanagari script

जपहोमैस्तथा दानैः प्रकुर्याद्देहसोधनम् / कृतेन तेन विघ्नानि विनश्यन्ति खगेश्वर

Transliteration

japahomaistathā dānaiḥ prakuryāddehasodhanam / kṛtena tena vighnāni vinaśyanti khageśvara

Translation

ജപം, ഹോമം, ദാനം എന്നിവയാൽ ദേഹശുദ്ധി നടത്തണം. അത് ചെയ്താൽ, ഹേ ഖഗേശ്വരാ (ഗരുഡാ), വിഘ്നങ്ങൾ നശിക്കും।

Word by Word

• जपहोमैः: by japa and homa (recitation and oblation)
• जपहोमैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (जपश्च होमश्च)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘likewise/also’

• दानैः: by gifts/charity
• दानैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• प्रकुर्यात्: should perform
• प्रकुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; √कृ (करणे) उपसर्गः ‘प्र’

• देहसोधनम्: purification of the body
• देहसोधनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + शोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देहस्य शोधनम्)

• कृतेन: by that which is done; by the performance
• कृतेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle) √कृ — ‘done/performed’

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (सन्दर्भानुसार)

• विघ्नानि: obstacles
• विघ्नानि: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विनश्यन्ति: perish; are destroyed
• विनश्यन्ति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; √नश् (नाशे) उपसर्गः ‘वि’

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue, instructing Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Deha-śodhana through japa, homa, and dāna; purified conduct and ritual merit dissolve vighnas (obstacles).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi via karma and upāsanā as a prerequisite for higher knowledge and stable devotion.

Application: Adopt a triad practice: daily mantra recitation, periodic fire-offering/intentional sacrifice, and regular charity; treat them as purification rather than transaction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-ground (agniśālā/vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: vighna-nāśa through śrāddha/bali and mantra (adjacent verses 2.21.22–26)

Characters & Entities

• Garuḍa (Khageśvara)

FAQs

What is the importance of dehaśodhana (purification of the body) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that purification is accomplished through japa, homa, and dāna, and that such purification destroys obstacles (vighna), supporting a smoother spiritual course and ritual efficacy.

How does this verse connect ritual practice to removing obstacles (vighna)?

It explicitly links the completion of japa, homa, and charity with the destruction of impediments—implying that disciplined sacred acts and generosity cleanse karmic and ritual hindrances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a regular practice of mantra-recitation, perform simple homa or devotional offerings as appropriate, and give charity—treating these as a combined discipline for inner cleansing and reducing life’s impediments.