Shloka 9

Durgā Pūjā, 108-Nāma Japa, and Protective Homa in Preta-Kalpa Observance

Devanagari script

महामांसेन-त्रिमधुराक्तेन अष्टोत्तरसह्सत्रं च एकैकं च पदं यजेत् / तिलांस्त्रिमधुराक्तांश्च सहस्रं चाष्ट होमयेत्

Transliteration

mahāmāṃsena-trimadhurāktena aṣṭottarasahsatraṃ ca ekaikaṃ ca padaṃ yajet / tilāṃstrimadhurāktāṃśca sahasraṃ cāṣṭa homayet

Translation

以大量“mahāmāṁsa”（大肉）涂抹“trimadhura”（三甘甜圣物），应作供献一千零八遍，逐字礼敬真言。又以涂三甘甜之芝麻投入圣火，作护摩一千零八次供养。

Word by Word

• महामांसेन: with great flesh/meat
• महामांसेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; करणम् (instrumental)

• त्रिमधुराक्तेन: smeared with three sweet substances
• त्रिमधुराक्तेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + मधुर + आक्त (कृदन्त; आङ्+अञ्ज्/अक्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘त्रिमधुरेण आक्त’ (smeared with three sweets)

• अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं: one thousand and eight (1008)
• अष्टोत्तरसहस्रं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + उत्तर + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक-समासः (1008)

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

• एकैकम्: each (one by one)
• एकैकम्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘each one’

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

• पदम्: a word/step (mantra-word)
• पदम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यजेत्: should worship/perform sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• त्रिमधुराक्तान्: smeared with three sweets
• त्रिमधुराक्तान्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि + मधुर + आक्त (कृदन्त; आङ्+अञ्ज्/अक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; तिलान् विशेषयति

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

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

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

• अष्ट: eight
• अष्ट: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; (अष्ट होमयेत् = eight times)

• होमयेत्: should offer into fire (perform homa)
• होमयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु) + णिच् (होमय-)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative) प्रयोगः

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy arises from correct substances (dravya), consecration (trimadhura), and exact repetition/oblation count (aṣṭottara-sahasra).

Vedantic Theme: Karma-kāṇḍa as a means to desired results (iṣṭa-siddhi) within saṃsāra; śraddhā and niyama as power-multipliers.

Application: If following such rites, maintain strict count, purity, and prescribed materials; otherwise interpret as a principle of disciplined repetition and offering (time/attention) to a chosen mantra.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space (yajnaśālā/agnikuṇḍa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.38 (mantra/yantra/śakti-sādhana context; adjacent dhyāna-ślokas describing the deity’s arms and weapons)

FAQs

What is the importance of aṣṭottara-sahasra (1008) offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes 1008 as a complete, intensive count for worship/oblation, indicating a full ritual measure for the intended rite (japa/arcana and homa).

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals or expiatory rites?

The verse describes a structured offering practice—worshipping each mantra-word and performing sesame homa with tri-madhura—commonly framed in the Garuda Purana as remedial or merit-generating ritual action connected with post-death welfare and purification.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

It emphasizes disciplined repetition and careful ritual intention (each “pada” honored), which can be applied as consistent mantra practice and mindful, ethically grounded observance under competent guidance.