Shloka 8

Kārtika Vrata, Bhīṣma-pañcaka, and Ekādaśī Timing

Tithi & Pāraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

प्रथमे ऽह्नि हरेः पादौ यजेत्पद्मैर्द्वितयिक / बिल्वपत्रैर्जानुदेशं नाभि गन्धेन चापरे

Transliteration

prathame 'hni hareḥ pādau yajetpadmairdvitayika / bilvapatrairjānudeśaṃ nābhi gandhena cāpare

Translation

في اليوم الأول تُعبَد قدما هاري (Hari) بزهور اللوتس؛ وفي اليوم الثاني تُعبَد منطقة الركبتين بأوراق البِلفا (bilva)؛ وفي يومٍ آخر تُعبَد السُّرّة بعِطرٍ طيّب (gandha).

Word by Word

• प्रथमे: on the first
• प्रथमे: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine) / नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular); ‘on the first (day)’

• अह्नि: day
• अह्नि: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन (singular)

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन (singular)

• पादौ: (the two) feet
• पादौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), द्विवचन (dual)

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपदम्

• पद्मैः: with lotuses
• पद्मैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• द्वितयिक: (on) the second (day) [reading uncertain]
• द्वितयिक: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितयिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन (singular); पाठभेद/रूपसंदेहः—सम्भाव्यं ‘द्वितये’/‘द्वितीयके’ (on the second day)

• बिल्वपत्रैः: with bilva leaves
• बिल्वपत्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिल्व + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन (plural)

• जानुदेशम्: the knee-region
• जानुदेशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु + देश (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• नाभि: navel
• नाभि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• गन्धेन: with fragrance/perfume
• गन्धेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन (singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपरे: on another/next (day)
• अपरे: Adhikarana (Time/Context)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (plural); ‘others/next (day)’—सन्दर्भे ‘अपरे (अह्नि)’

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Krama-arcana: devotion through ordered limb-wise worship, using symbolically apt offerings (lotus, bilva, fragrance).

Vedantic Theme: The Lord as viśva-śarīra (cosmic person) contemplated through parts; ordered practice trains mind toward wholeness.

Application: Structure worship/meditation progressively (from feet upward), pairing each stage with a sensory anchor (flower, leaf, scent) to deepen focus.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: puja-sthana

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.123.9 (head worship on fifth day; austerities)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of day-wise offerings in the Garuda Purana?

This verse prescribes a sequential mode of Hari-pūjā—specific body-points of Vishnu are worshipped on specific days using particular offerings, emphasizing disciplined, rule-based devotion (vidhi) rather than random ritual.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by foregrounding correct devotional and ritual practice toward Hari, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that righteous observance and devotion shape one’s post-death welfare and spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform Vishnu worship with intentionality—offer appropriate flowers/leaves and fragrance with focused reverence, keeping a consistent routine (daily or on vowed days) rather than treating worship as a mere formality.