Shloka 4

Śrī-nyāsa, Lotus Maṇḍala Construction, and Homa to Mahālakṣmī with Sarasvatī Invocation

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रपालमथाग्न्यादौ होमाञ्जुहाव कामभाक् / ॐ घं टं डं हं श्रीमहालक्ष्म्यै नमः

Transliteration

kṣetrapālamathāgnyādau homāñjuhāva kāmabhāk / oṃ ghaṃ ṭaṃ ḍaṃ haṃ śrīmahālakṣmyai namaḥ

Translation

Rồi, mong cầu quả báo như ý, hành giả dâng cúng phẩm vào lửa trong nghi lễ homa—trước hết thỉnh Kṣetrapāla, vị hộ thần của thánh địa—và tụng: “Oṁ ghaṁ ṭaṁ ḍaṁ haṁ—kính lễ Śrī Mahālakṣmī.”

Word by Word

• kṣetra-pālam: Kṣetrapāla (guardian deity)
• kṣetra-pālam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘guardian of the field/region’)

• atha: then
• atha: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Discourse particle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमसूचक अव्यय (particle: then/now)

• agni-ādau: in the fire etc. (ritual context)
• agni-ādau: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘in/at fire etc.’)

• homān: oblations (homas)
• homān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• juhāva: offered (into fire)
• juhāva: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hu (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kāma-bhāk: desire-fulfilling / partaker of wishes
• kāma-bhāk: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāj (धातु-सम्बद्ध प्रातिपदिक ‘bhāk’ = partaker)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)

• oṃ: Oṃ
• oṃ: Mantra (Mantric utterance/मन्त्र)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṃ (प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव, अव्यय (mantric)

• ghaṃ: seed syllable ‘ghaṃ’
• ghaṃ: Mantra (Mantric utterance/मन्त्र)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ghaṃ (बीज/मन्त्र-शब्द)
• Form: बीजाक्षर, अव्यय

• ṭaṃ: seed syllable ‘ṭaṃ’
• ṭaṃ: Mantra (Mantric utterance/मन्त्र)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ṭaṃ (बीज/मन्त्र-शब्द)
• Form: बीजाक्षर, अव्यय

• ḍaṃ: seed syllable ‘ḍaṃ’
• ḍaṃ: Mantra (Mantric utterance/मन्त्र)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ḍaṃ (बीज/मन्त्र-शब्द)
• Form: बीजाक्षर, अव्यय

• haṃ: seed syllable ‘haṃ’
• haṃ: Mantra (Mantric utterance/मन्त्र)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: haṃ (बीज/मन्त्र-शब्द)
• Form: बीजाक्षर, अव्यय

• śrī-mahālakṣmyai: to Śrī Mahālakṣmī
• śrī-mahālakṣmyai: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + mahālakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘Śrī Mahālakṣmī’)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Prayojana (Salutation/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नमस्कारार्थक अव्यय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual action (homa) coupled with protective preliminaries and mantra yields intended results when performed with right intention and order.

Vedantic Theme: Karma as a purifier and as an offering (īśvara-arpana-buddhi); outer fire mirrors inner tapas and disciplined will.

Application: Before major undertakings, establish safeguards (ethical, practical, spiritual); then act steadily—offer effort ‘into the fire’ with focused intention rather than scattered desire.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: fire-altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana ritual sequences: kṣetrapāla-pūjā, vighna-śānti, homa for siddhi

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapāla
• Agni
• Śrī Mahālakṣmī

FAQs

What is the importance of invoking Kṣetrapāla in the Garuda Purana?

This verse indicates that the ritual space is first secured by invoking the site-guardian (Kṣetrapāla), ensuring the homa is protected and properly established before seeking results.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it highlights correct ritual order and mantra-use, which the Garuda Purana often frames as supportive disciplines for dharma and well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin spiritual practice with sanctifying the space (cleanliness, protection prayer) and proceed with focused intention; disciplined preliminaries are presented as essential for effective worship.