Shloka 5

Rambhā-Tṛtīyā Vrata: annual cycle of Devī worship, offerings, and dāna

Devanagari script

विशालाक्षीं दमनकैश्चैत्रे च कृसरप्रदः / दधिप्राशो दन्तकाष्ठं तगरं श्रीमुखीं यजेत्

Transliteration

viśālākṣīṃ damanakaiścaitre ca kṛsarapradaḥ / dadhiprāśo dantakāṣṭhaṃ tagaraṃ śrīmukhīṃ yajet

Translation

في شهر تشيترا (Caitra) ينبغي تقديم طعام الكِرْسَرا (kṛsara) مع أغصان الداماناكا (damanaka)، ثم تُعبَد فيشالاكسِي (Viśālākṣī) وشريموخِي (Śrīmukhī) وتاغارا (Tagara)، مع تقديم عود الأسنان (dantakāṣṭha) وإجراء طقس تذوّق اللبن الرائب (dadhi-prāśa).

Word by Word

• विशालाक्षीम्: Viśālākṣī (wide-eyed goddess)
• विशालाक्षीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाल + अक्षी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (विशाले अक्षिणी यस्याः)

• दमनकैः: with damanaka (a fragrant plant)
• दमनकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दमनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• चैत्रे: in Caitra (month)
• चैत्रे: Adhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (काल-अधिकरण), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Connector (Samuccaya/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• कृसरप्रदः: giver of kṛsara
• कृसरप्रदः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृसर + प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृसरं प्रददाति)

• दधिप्राशः: one who eats curd
• दधिप्राशः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दधि + प्र + अश् (धातु/कृदन्त-आधार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (दधि प्राश्नाति)

• दन्तकाष्ठम्: tooth-stick
• दन्तकाष्ठम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दन्त + काष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तगरम्: tagara (fragrant plant)
• तगरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• श्रीमुखीम्: Śrīmukhī (goddess/name)
• श्रीमुखीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + मुखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रीवत् मुखं यस्याः)

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Devotion expressed through timely offerings—food (kṛsara), fragrant herbs (damanaka, tagara), and purity items (dantakāṣṭha)—cultivates auspiciousness and steadiness of mind.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-arpita karma ripens into bhakti; sensory offerings (taste, fragrance) are sublimated into remembrance of the Divine.

Application: In Caitra, offer simple sattvic food and seasonal fragrant leaves/flowers; use the act of preparing and offering as a mindfulness practice, then share prasāda.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: temple/śakti-sthāna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.120 (Caitra sequence; Devī-nāma worship)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Viśālākṣī
• Śrīmukhī

FAQs

What is the importance of Caitra-month offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames Caitra as a time for specific, codified offerings (kṛsara, damanaka, curds, dantakāṣṭha, fragrances) and deity-worship, indicating that seasonal/ritual timing is integral to merit-bearing observance (vrata/puja) in the text.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This particular verse is not describing the soul’s journey or Yama’s realm; instead, it prescribes ritual worship and offerings, which the Garuda Purana often presents as supportive dharmic actions that contribute to auspicious outcomes and spiritual merit.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Observe a simple, ethical form of the practice: seasonal worship/charity, offering food (like a rice-and-lentil preparation) and maintaining purity/discipline (symbolized by dantakāṣṭha and clean offerings), while dedicating the act to divine remembrance.