Shloka 6

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

घृताक्तगुग्गुलैर्धूपं द्विजः पञ्चदिनं दहेत् / नैवद्यं परमान्नं तु जपेदष्टोत्तरं शतम्

Transliteration

ghṛtāktaguggulairdhūpaṃ dvijaḥ pañcadinaṃ dahet / naivadyaṃ paramānnaṃ tu japedaṣṭottaraṃ śatam

Translation

Seorang dvija (dua kali lahir) hendaklah membakar dhūpa, iaitu kemenyan daripada guggulu yang disapu ghee, selama lima hari. Dan dengan mempersembahkan naivedya berupa paramānna (nasi manis), hendaklah ia mengulang mantra seratus lapan kali.

Word by Word

• घृताक्तगुग्गुलैः: with ghee-smeared guggulu (resin)
• घृताक्तगुग्गुलैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + आक्त + गुग्गुलु (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural); घृताक्त = ghee-smeared; ‘with guggulu smeared with ghee’

• धूपम्: incense
• धूपम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• द्विजः: the twice-born (Brahmin)
• द्विजः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular)

• पञ्चदिनम्: for five days
• पञ्चदिनम्: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + दिन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular); कालाधिकरणार्थे (accusative of duration)

• दहेत्: should burn (offer)
• दहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• नैवद्यम्: food offering (naivedya)
• नैवद्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैवेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• परमान्नम्: excellent cooked rice (paramānna)
• परमान्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular); ‘excellent rice/food’

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• अष्टोत्तरम्: eight more (i.e., plus eight)
• अष्टोत्तरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular); संख्याविशेषण (numerical qualifier)

• शतम्: a hundred (108 together with aṣṭottara)
• शतम्: Karma (Measure/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Anuṣṭhāna-bhakti: sustained worship through dhūpa, naivedya, and fixed-count japa; devotion is strengthened by repetition and time-bound observance.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-ekāgratā through mantra and regulated offering; sāttvika karma offered to Īśvara as purification.

Application: Adopt consistent practice (same time daily), keep a fixed japa count (108), and pair mantra with simple offerings to stabilize attention.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: griha-mandira/agnikunda-sannidhi

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.123.5 (abhiṣeka/anulepana); Garuda Purana 1.123.7 (aṣṭākṣara mantra and homa)

FAQs

What is the importance of guggulu dhupa in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse prescribes guggulu incense anointed with ghee as a five-day ritual act, indicating a structured purification/appeasement rite supported by offerings and mantra-japa.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals and preta-shanti?

Placed in the Preta Kanda context, it outlines a practical sequence—dhupa for five days, naivedya of paramānna, and 108 japa—typical of rites meant to support peace and sanctity in post-death observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep ritual discipline: combine a sattvic offering (naivedya), a purifying act (dhupa), and focused repetition (108 japa) with consistency over a fixed period.