Shloka 20

Śivarātri Vrata: Timing, Accidental Merit, and the Complete Night-Vigil Procedure

Devanagari script

भोजयेद्ध्याननिष्ठांश्च वस्त्रच्छत्रादिकं ददेत् / देवादिदेव भूतेश लोकानुग्रहकारक

Transliteration

bhojayeddhyānaniṣṭhāṃśca vastracchatrādikaṃ dadet / devādideva bhūteśa lokānugrahakāraka

Translation

พึงเลี้ยงดูผู้มั่นคงในสมาธิ และถวายทานผ้า ร่ม และสิ่งอื่น ๆ โอ้เทวะเหนือเทวะ โอ้ผู้เป็นเจ้าแห่งสรรพภูต ผู้เกื้อกูลโลกทั้งปวง!

Word by Word

• भोजयेत्: should feed / let (him) feed
• भोजयेत्: Karta (injunctive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भोजय् (धातु √भुज्, णिच्-प्रत्यय causative)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/benedictive sense), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

• ध्याननिष्ठान्: those devoted to meditation
• ध्याननिष्ठान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान + निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; components: ध्यान ‘meditation’ + निष्ठ ‘devoted/steadfast’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वस्त्रच्छत्रादिकम्: clothes, umbrellas, and the like
• वस्त्रच्छत्रादिकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र + छत्र + आदि + क (प्रातिपदिक; components: वस्त्र ‘cloth’ + छत्र ‘umbrella’ + आदि ‘etc.’ + -क)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• ददेत्: should give
• ददेत्: Karta (injunctive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु √दा)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

• देवादिदेव: O God of gods
• देवादिदेव: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + आदि + देव (प्रातिपदिक; components: देव ‘god’ + आदि ‘first’ + देव ‘god’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular)

• भूतेश: O Lord of beings
• भूतेश: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + ईश (प्रातिपदिक; components: भूत ‘beings’ + ईश ‘lord’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular)

• लोकानुग्रहकारक: O doer of grace to the worlds
• लोकानुग्रहकारक: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + अनुग्रह + कारक (प्रातिपदिक; components: लोक ‘world’ + अनुग्रह ‘favor’ + कारक ‘maker/doer’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dāna to spiritually established persons (dhyāna-niṣṭha) and gifting necessities (cloth, umbrella) as righteous conduct that supports the world-order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-yoga orientation: offering actions and gifts in a spirit aligned with īśvara-anugraha; purification of mind (citta-śuddhi) through sattvika-dāna.

Application: Support contemplatives/teachers; give practical items (clothing, shelter aids) as part of regular charity; prioritize worthy recipients and usefulness of gifts.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Preta/Ācāra sections): general praise of dāna, feeding brāhmaṇas/ascetics, lamp-gift merits (dīpa-dāna); Garuda Purana: vrata narratives where feeding and gifting accompany observances

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Bhutas (beings)

FAQs

What is the importance of feeding and gifting in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that feeding sincere meditators and giving useful items like clothing and umbrellas are meritorious acts that support dharma and promote the welfare of society.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By prescribing charity (dāna) and service to spiritually disciplined people, it points to merit (puṇya) as a supportive force for one’s spiritual progress and favorable outcomes beyond this life.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Offer food or support to genuine practitioners and donate practical necessities (clothes, shade/rain protection, essentials) regularly, with humility and right intention.