Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

व्रती द्वादश संभोज्य दीपदः स्वर्गमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

vratī dvādaśa saṃbhojya dīpadaḥ svargamāpnuyāt

Translation

Người giữ giới nguyện, sau khi thí thực cho mười hai người và dâng tặng một ngọn đèn, sẽ đạt đến cõi trời.

Word by Word

• व्रती: the vow-observer
• व्रती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• द्वादश: twelve (persons)
• द्वादश: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक) पुंलिङ्ग (masculine; implied ‘persons’), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनार्थ (numeral used as object)

• संभोज्य: having fed (them)
• संभोज्य: Purvakala (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भोजय् (धातु √भुज्, णिच्) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive, ल्यप्), ‘having fed well’

• दीपदः: giver of lamps
• दीपदः: Karta (Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप + द (प्रातिपदिक; components: दीप ‘lamp’ + द ‘giver’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणवत् (epithet of व्रती)

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (Goal/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• आप्नुयात्: should attain
• आप्नुयात्: Karta (predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु √आप्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Pretakalpa Layer

Afterlife Stage: Svarga

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Specific ritual merits: feeding (saṃbhojya) and dīpa-dāna generate puṇya leading to svarga.

Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala doctrine: finite heavenly reward from meritorious action; implicit invitation to transcend mere svarga-seeking toward higher liberation elsewhere in the text.

Application: Combine anna-dāna with dīpa-dāna (support light/education/temple lamps); keep count/structure in charity as part of vrata discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: dīpa-dāna praises and vrata-phala enumerations; Garuda Purana: feeding brāhmaṇas/guests as major puṇya

FAQs

What is the importance of dīpa-dāna (lamp donation) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that gifting a lamp, especially when paired with vow-observance and feeding, yields strong merit leading to svarga (heaven).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It links ethical-religious acts (vrata, feeding, and dāna) with post-death outcomes, presenting svarga as a karmic result of accumulated punya.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Keep a disciplined vow (as feasible), feed others (e.g., the needy or guests) in a spirit of dharma, and offer lamp-light (temple/home) as a regular act of charity and reverence.