Shloka 33

Devanagari script

वर्धनीधारया सिञ्चन्नग्रतो धारयेत्ततः / अभ्यर्च्य वर्धनीकुम्भं स्थण्डिले देवमर्चयेत्

Transliteration

vardhanīdhārayā siñcannagrato dhārayettataḥ / abhyarcya vardhanīkumbhaṃ sthaṇḍile devamarcayet

Translation

Окропляя (водой) струёй из вардхани, затем следует держать её перед собой. Должным образом почтив кумбху вардхани, следует почитать Божество на приготовленном земляном алтаре (стхандиле).

Word by Word

• वर्धनीधारया: with the stream/pour from the vardhanī
• वर्धनीधारया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्धनी + धारा (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वर्धन्याः धारा)

• सिञ्चन्: sprinkling/pouring
• सिञ्चन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, implied)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिच् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्) → सिञ्चत्/सिञ्चन्
• Form: कृदन्त (वर्तमान कृदन्त/Present active participle -शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियासहायक (concomitant action)

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/adverb (in front)

• धारयेत्: should hold/place
• धारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) (णिजन्त/causative sense possible) → धारय्
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/adverb (then/thereafter)

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अर्च् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/gerund -ल्यप्), पूर्वक्रिया (having worshipped)

• वर्धनीकुम्भम्: the vardhanī-pot (ritual pot)
• वर्धनीकुम्भम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्धनी + कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वर्धन्याः कुम्भः)

• स्थण्डिले: on the altar/cleared ground
• स्थण्डिले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Immediately after kalaśa establishment; before main offerings on the altar

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śuddhi (sprinkling) and proper transfer of attention from ritual support (kumbha) to the main devatā on the altar.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed with niyama and śraddhā refines the mind; external śuddhi mirrors internal discipline.

Application: Use sprinkling (prokṣaṇa) to mark purification; worship the kalaśa first as the support, then proceed to the main altar worship without breaking ritual continuity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-altar space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.48.32 (kalaśa as devatā-ādhāra); Garuda Purana 1.48.34-36 (directional invocations, vāstoṣpati, bali, āsana)

Characters & Entities

• Deva

FAQs

What is the importance of the vardhanī-kumbha in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse presents the vardhanī-kumbha as a consecrated ritual water-jar: one first performs sprinkling/purification with its stream and then worships the kumbha itself before proceeding to worship the deity.

How does this verse guide the correct sequence of worship (pūjā-krama)?

It specifies a clear order: (1) sprinkle/purify using the vardhanī stream, (2) keep/hold it in front as part of the rite, (3) worship the vardhanī-kumbha, and (4) worship the deity on the sthaṇḍila altar.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain ritual discipline and sequence: begin with purification (clean water and space), treat ritual implements as sacred (kumbha), and then perform focused worship at a clean, designated altar.