Shloka 97

Agastya Arghya Rite and the Gaurī & Sārasvata Vows

with Origin Narratives and Merit Statements

Devanagari script

मिथुनानि चतुर्विशद्द्वादशाथ समर्चयेत् । अष्टावष्टाथवा भूयश्चतुर्मासेथ वार्चयेत्

Transliteration

mithunāni caturviśaddvādaśātha samarcayet | aṣṭāvaṣṭāthavā bhūyaścaturmāsetha vārcayet

Translation

Hãy cung kính thờ phụng các hình tướng thần linh theo đôi—hoặc hai mươi bốn, hoặc mười hai; hoặc lại tám; hay thờ phụng trong suốt bốn tháng mùa Cāturmāsya.

Word by Word

• मिथुनानि: pairs/couples
• मिथुनानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• चतुर्विंशत्: twenty-four
• चतुर्विंशत्: कर्म-परिमाण (Measure of object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur-viṃśati (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्/प्रातिपदिक-रूप; (here) कर्म-परिमाण (quantity)

• द्वादश: twelve
• द्वादश: कर्म-परिमाण (Measure of object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत्; कर्म-परिमाण

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• समर्चयेत्: should worship duly
• समर्चयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-सम्

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: कर्म-परिमाण (Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (here) कर्म-परिमाण

• अष्ट: eight
• अष्ट: कर्म-परिमाण (Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; (here) कर्म-परिमाण

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: सम्बन्ध/विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-बोधक अव्यय (disjunctive: or)

• भूयः: again/further
• भूयः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyas (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरर्थक/अधिक्यवाचक अव्यय (again/further)

• चतुर्-मासे: in the four-month period
• चतुर्-मासे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (four-month period)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (then)

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध/विकल्प (Alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-बोधक अव्यय (or)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √arc (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 22; likely a narrator/teacher voice continuing ritual instruction)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुर्विशद्द्वादशाथ = चतुर्विंशत् + द्वादश + अथ (t + d sandhi); अष्टावष्टाथवा = अष्टौ + अष्ट + अथवा; भूयश्चतुर्मासेथ = भूयः + चतुर्-मासे + अथ; वार्चयेत् = वा + अर्चयेत्.

FAQs

What is the main ritual instruction in this verse?

It gives permitted options for worship: venerating paired forms in sets of 24, 12, or 8, or performing worship specifically during the Cāturmāsya four-month observance.

What does “Cāturmāsya” imply here?

It refers to the traditional four-month sacred period (often aligned with the rainy season) during which devotional observances and disciplined worship are emphasized.

Why are multiple numbers (24, 12, 8) offered?

The verse presents flexible ritual alternatives—allowing different enumerations or levels of practice—so worship can be adapted to capacity or tradition while remaining scripturally sanctioned.