Shloka 4

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

ततः श्रेष्ठव्रतं शुक्लस्यैकादश्यां समाचरेत् / स्नात्वा त्रिकालं पित्रादीन्यवाद्यैरर्चयेद्धरिम्

Transliteration

tataḥ śreṣṭhavrataṃ śuklasyaikādaśyāṃ samācaret / snātvā trikālaṃ pitrādīnyavādyairarcayeddharim

Translation

ثم بعد ذلك، في يوم إكاداشي من النصف المضيء من الشهر، فليُقم المرء النذرَ الأسمى. وبعد الاغتسال ثلاث مرات في اليوم، فليعبد هاري بالترانيم والآلات الموسيقية، مع إكرام البِتْرِ (الأجداد) وسائر الكائنات الموقَّرة.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Discourse (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तर (thereafter)

• श्रेष्ठ-व्रतम्: the best vow
• श्रेष्ठ-व्रतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—श्रेष्ठं व्रतम् (कर्मधारय)

• शुक्लस्य: of the bright (fortnight)
• शुक्लस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; पक्ष-नाम (of the bright fortnight)

• एकादश्याम्: on Ekādaśī
• एकादश्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकादशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• समाचरेत्: should perform
• समाचरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्नात्वा: having bathed
• स्नात्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्ना (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• त्रिकालम्: three times (a day)
• त्रिकालम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः—त्रयः कालाः (द्विगु/समाहार)

• पितृ-आदीनि: the Pitṛs and others
• पितृ-आदीनि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—पितरः आदयः येषां तानि (पितृ-आदि-समूहः)

• अवाद्यैः: without musical instruments
• अवाद्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘अवाद्य’ = वाद्याभाव/अवाद्य-नियम (without music/instruments)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरिम्: Hari
• हरिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shraddha Ritual

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: Śukla-pakṣa Ekādaśī; integrated within the day’s worship (tarpaṇa/namaskāra implied rather than full śrāddha).

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: On bright Ekādaśī, undertake a superior vow: bathe thrice daily, worship Hari with instruments, and honor Pitṛs and other venerables—showing bhakti harmonized with ancestral obligations.

Vedantic Theme: Integration (samanvaya) of bhakti with dharmic duties; worship as yajña that includes gratitude to forebears while centering on Hari.

Application: On Ekādaśī: keep cleanliness and regular worship; add devotional music/chanting; include a simple act of remembrance/charity in honor of ancestors.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: tīrtha/temple-ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Ekādaśī and Kārtika observances; Pitṛ-related duties appear elsewhere in Preta/Shraddha contexts though here only honoring is mentioned; Garuda Purana: emphasis on Hari-archana with vādya and snāna as vrata-aṅga

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Ekadashi
• Pitris

FAQs

What is the importance of Ekadashi vrata in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents bright-fortnight Ekādaśī as a “श्रेष्ठव्रत” (excellent vow) centered on purity (trikāla स्नान) and devotion to Hari, indicating it as a high-value observance for dharmic living.

How does this verse connect ancestor honor (Pitṛs) with Vishnu worship?

It instructs worship of Hari while also honoring “pitṛ-ādīn,” showing that devotion and ancestral reverence are not treated as separate—both are integrated within the same sacred observance.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

On Ekādaśī, keep a disciplined routine (cleanliness, prayer, restraint), offer Viṣṇu-centered worship, and include a respectful remembrance/offerings for ancestors according to one’s tradition.