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

घृताक्तगुग्गुलैर्धूपं द्विजः पञ्चदिनं दहेत्। नैवेद्यं परमान्नं दत्त्वा जपेदष्टोत्तरं शतम्॥

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.