Shloka 16

Aśokāṣṭamī and Mahānavamī: Durgā Navamī-vrata, mantra-nyāsa, forms, weapons, and offerings

Devanagari script

विचित्रां रक्षयेत्पूजामष्टम्यामुपवासयेत् / पञ्चाब्दं महिषं बस्तं रात्रिशेषे च घातयेत्

Transliteration

vicitrāṃ rakṣayetpūjāmaṣṭamyāmupavāsayet / pañcābdaṃ mahiṣaṃ bastaṃ rātriśeṣe ca ghātayet

Translation

విధిపూర్వకంగా విశేష పూజను ఆచరించి, అష్టమి తిథిన ఉపవాసం చేయాలి. ఆపై రాత్రి చివరి యామంలో ఐదు సంవత్సరాల మహిషాన్ని మరియు ఒక మేకను విధిగా బలి ఇవ్వాలి.

Word by Word

• विचित्राम्: variegated, special
• विचित्राम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पूजाम्: worship, offering
• पूजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रक्षयेत्: should protect/perform (properly)
• रक्षयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• अष्टम्याम्: on the eighth (lunar day)
• अष्टम्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; तिथिवाचक

• उपवासयेत्: should cause (oneself/others) to fast; should observe a fast
• उपवासयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उपवासय् (धातु; उप-√वास causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; णिच् (causative)

• पञ्चाब्दम्: five-year-old
• पञ्चाब्दम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (पञ्च-अब्दः = पञ्चवर्षीयः)

• महिषम्: buffalo
• महिषम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बस्तम्: he-goat
• बस्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• रात्रिशेषे: at the remainder/end of the night
• रात्रिशेषे: Adhikarana (Location/Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रात्रेः शेषः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• घातयेत्: should have (it) killed; should slay
• घातयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घातय् (धातु; √हन् causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; णिच् (causative)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on exact observance of time (aṣṭamī), fasting, and prescribed offerings.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa niyama: results arise from correctly performed action (vidhi) rather than intention alone.

Application: If practicing within a living tradition, prioritize non-violent substitutes and strict adherence to ethical/legal norms; understand the verse as describing a specific, bounded rite rather than general dharma.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (mandala/altar)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.133.17-18 (directional offerings; associated deities and substances); Garuda Purana 1.134.1-2 (mantra/bali consecration framework)

FAQs

What is the importance of Aṣṭamī fasting in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Aṣṭamī as a key ritual time: fasting (upavāsa) and careful observance of worship are prescribed as part of a specific rite.

How does this verse fit the Garuda Purana’s teaching on dharma and ritual action?

It reflects the text’s prescriptive, dharma-oriented mode—detailing timing (Aṣṭamī, end of night) and components of a rite to be performed with proper observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

The transferable practice is disciplined observance—keeping vows, fasting with restraint, and performing worship with consistency and sincerity, aligned with one’s tradition and ethical standards.