Shloka 3

Śravaṇa-Dvādaśī Vrata (Vijayā/Mahātī Dvādaśī): Vāmana-Kumbha Worship, Restraints, and Jāgaraṇa

Devanagari script

उपवासेन भैक्ष्येण नैवाद्बादशिको भवेत् / कास्यं मांसं तथा क्षौद्रं लोभं वितथभाषणम्

Transliteration

upavāsena bhaikṣyeṇa naivādbādaśiko bhavet / kāsyaṃ māṃsaṃ tathā kṣaudraṃ lobhaṃ vitathabhāṣaṇam

Translation

بالصوم والعيش على الصدقات وحدها لا يصير المرء بذلك مُراقِبًا حقيقيًّا لـ«دْوَادَشيكَ». بل عليه أيضًا أن يترك أواني البرونز، واللحم، والعسل، والطمع، والكلام الكاذب.

Word by Word

• उपवासेन: by fasting
• उपवासेन: करण (Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• भैक्ष्येण: by (taking) alms-food
• भैक्ष्येण: करण (Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; भिक्षा-सम्बन्धि = by alms/food obtained by begging

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध/अन्वय (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• आद्बादशिकः: a Dvādaśī-observer
• आद्बादशिकः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + द्वादशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘द्वादशी-व्रती’ = observer of Dvādaśī (here: one who properly keeps the Dvādaśī observance)

• भवेत्: would become / should be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• कास्यम्: bell-metal (bronze)
• कास्यम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कास्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कास्य = bell-metal/bronze (as an item to be avoided/renounced)

• मांसम्: meat
• मांसम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: समुच्चय/अन्वय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = also/likewise

• क्षौद्रम्: honey
• क्षौद्रम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्षौद्र = honey

• लोभम्: greed
• लोभम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वितथभाषणम्: false speech
• वितथभाषणम्: कर्म (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वितथ + भाषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वितथ-भाषण’ = false speech

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vrata is not mere upavāsa; it requires tyāga of impure/attachment-forming items and vices—especially lobha and anṛta (false speech).

Vedantic Theme: Antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi through yama-niyama-like restraints; truthfulness and non-greed reduce avidyā-driven agitation, supporting bhakti/jñāna.

Application: When undertaking a vrata, pair dietary restraint with ethical vows: avoid deceit, curb greed, simplify possessions/consumption, and adopt truthful speech as a core discipline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Geographic Context

Type: ethical-ritual domain (vrata discipline)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.136 (vrata-niyama elaboration)

FAQs

What is the importance of the dvādaśika (twelve-night) discipline in the Garuda Purana?

This verse stresses that the dvādaśika is not merely a physical austerity like fasting; it is a moral and behavioral discipline requiring restraint from specific consumables and from vices like greed and untruth.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

In the Preta-kāṇḍa framework, post-death welfare is tied to dharma and purity; the verse implies that inner conduct (truthfulness, non-greed) is as consequential as outward ritual austerity.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If undertaking a fast or vow, pair it with ethical commitments—avoid deceit, reduce greed-driven behavior, and practice dietary restraint—so the observance becomes character-forming rather than merely performative.