Shloka 34

Āhnika-Dharma: Dawn Purification, Sandhyā-Upāsanā, Tarpana, Pañca-Mahāyajñas, and Aśauca Rules

Devanagari script

दैवतानि नमस्कुर्यादुपहारान्निवेदयेत् / गुरुं चैवाप्युपासीत हितं चास्य समाचरेत्

Transliteration

daivatāni namaskuryādupahārānnivedayet / guruṃ caivāpyupāsīta hitaṃ cāsya samācaret

Translation

Hendaklah seseorang memberi sembah kepada para dewa dan mempersembahkan hadiah persembahan dengan hormat; hendaklah juga berkhidmat kepada guru serta bertindak dengan cara yang membawa kebaikan baginya.

Word by Word

• दैवतानि: the deities
• दैवतानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• नमस्कुर्यात्: should bow to
• नमस्कुर्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन

• उपहारान्: offerings/presents
• उपहारान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• निवेदयेत्: should present/offer
• निवेदयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: विद् (to know) in causative sense 'to inform/present' with उपसर्ग नि

• गुरुं: the teacher
• गुरुं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (indeed/only)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Additive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (also)

• उपासीत: should serve/attend upon
• उपासीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + आस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद; तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: आस् (to sit) with उपसर्ग उप (to attend upon/serve)

• हितं: what is beneficial
• हितं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from धा with नि/हि? lexical)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मरूपेण (as object: beneficial act)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• अस्य: of him (the guru)
• अस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (of him/of this person)

• समाचरेत्: should practice/perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: चर् (to do/practise) with उपसर्ग सम्, आ

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Honor devas with namaskāra and offerings; serve the guru and act for his welfare.

Vedantic Theme: Guru-bhakti and īśvara-ārādhana as supports for inner purification and right knowledge; humility dissolves ego (ahaṅkāra).

Application: Maintain regular gratitude practices (worship/offerings) and concretely support teachers/mentors—time, service, resources, and respectful conduct.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred domestic/ashramic space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Ācāra): guru-sevā, devatā-pūjā, upahāra-niyama (contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Guru

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring deities and the guru in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames devotion and right conduct as two pillars of dharma: respectful worship of the devas through offerings, and dedicated service to the guru through beneficial actions.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

By emphasizing disciplined worship and guru-service, it points to the ethical and devotional foundations believed to purify karma—supporting a smoother spiritual trajectory and reducing obstacles created by wrongdoing.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a consistent practice of reverence (prayer/offerings) and express gratitude through service—especially by supporting and not harming one’s teachers/mentors, and acting for their genuine welfare.